Parental employment status and preschoolers' emotional and behavioral problems in Western China: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Guided by the Family Economic Stress Model, this study investigated the associations between parental employment status and emotional and behavioral problems among preschoolers in Western China. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 21,968 children aged 3-6 years recruited from 189 kindergartens. Parental employment status was categorized into four family-level patterns and further analyzed separately for paternal and maternal employment. Children's outcomes were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. RESULTS: Father-only employment was associated with higher internalizing problems (aOR = 1.11) but lower externalizing problems (aOR = 0.90); dual non-employment was associated with increased internalizing problems (aOR = 1.31). Paternal unemployment was linked to externalizing problems (aOR = 1.25), while maternal non-employment was associated with internalizing problems (aOR = 1.11-1.27). No significant effect modification was observed after FDR correction. CONCLUSIONS: Parental employment status is associated with preschoolers' emotional and behavioral problems in a gender-differentiated manner. Paternal unemployment is primarily linked to externalizing problems, whereas maternal non-employment is more strongly associated with internalizing problems.