A1 Journal article (refereed)
Child and Adolescent Time Use : A Cross‐National Study (2020)
Gracia, P., Garcia-Roman, J., Oinas, T., & Anttila, T. (2020). Child and Adolescent Time Use : A Cross‐National Study. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 82(4), 1304-1325. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12626
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Gracia, Pablo; Garcia-Roman, Joan; Oinas, Tomi; Anttila, Timo
Journal or series: Journal of Marriage and the Family
ISSN: 0022-2445
eISSN: 1741-3737
Publication year: 2020
Volume: 82
Issue number: 4
Pages range: 1304-1325
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12626
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Abstract
This study examined the differences in child and adolescent time use across the following three countries with distinct policy and cultural regimes: Finland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Background
Studying children's time use cross‐nationally is urgent to better understand how societal contexts influence children's daily lives in ways that affect their future lifestyles, development, and identity formation. Yet previous studies have largely omitted this important question.
Method
The study used 2009 to 015 time‐diary data on children aged 10 to 17 from Finland, Spain, and the United Kingdom (N = 3,491). Multivariate linear regression models examined (a) between‐country and (b) within‐country variations.
Results
Finnish children spent 153 daily minutes less with parents, 128 more with “others” and 54 daily minutes more alone when compared with Spanish children. The United Kingdom fell between Finland and Spain in children's time allocated with parents and time with “others.” In family‐oriented Spain, children spent more time eating; in individualistic Finland and United Kingdom, child screen‐based time was highest. Parental education generally led to more time in educational activities, but with minor country variations. Maternal employment was generally not associated with child time use, except in Spain, where it led to less parent–child time.
Conclusion
The strong cross‐national differences in child and adolescent time use seem only partly driven by sociostructural factors. Cross‐cultural variations in family values and parenting ideologies seem to critically influence children's daily activities.
Keywords: children (age groups); young people; childhood; family relations; time use; cross-cultural research
Free keywords: adolescence; childhood; children; cross‐national; family relations; time use
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2020
JUFO rating: 3
