The impact of part time employment on students' health and academic performance: a Scottish perspective

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between part time working, mental and physical health and academic performance. Fifty per cent of the undergraduate full time respondents had part time jobs. Mean pay per hour was £4.25 and mean number of hours worked was 14 hours. When the current state of students' health was compared to the sex- and age-related norms for the general population, it showed that seven of the eight areas of health measured were significantly poorer than those of the general population. Results also showed that being in debt and part time working both have a very slight (though significant), detrimental effect on both mental and physical health of students. Accordingly, working more hours increased the probability that a student perceived a negative effect on academic performance. In conclusion, it is recommended that several measures be implemented to help students, to organize study and part time work to best effect.