Changes in children’s time use during periods of financial hardship

Economically disadvantaged children are more likely than other children to experience worse cognitive, health, and behavioral outcomes. The mechanisms for these associations are not fully understood, hindering policy initiatives aimed at closing the gaps. One hypothesis is that children experiencing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of population economics 2022-07, Vol.35 (3), p.1133-1162
Main Authors: Arnup, Jessica L., Black, Nicole, Johnston, David W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Child development
Children
Childrens health
Cognitive ability
Cognitive-behavioral factors
Demography
Deprivation
Economics
Economics and Finance
Health behavior
Health status
Labor Economics
Original Paper
Physical activity
Population Economics
Poverty
Screen time
Social Policy
Time use
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Summary:Economically disadvantaged children are more likely than other children to experience worse cognitive, health, and behavioral outcomes. The mechanisms for these associations are not fully understood, hindering policy initiatives aimed at closing the gaps. One hypothesis is that children experiencing financial hardship allocate their time differently. In this study, we use seven waves of time use diary data from a large sample of Australian children to explore how children’s time use changes when their family experiences financial hardship or deprivation. Focusing on four key child health and development time inputs––screen time, physical activity, sleep, and reading––we find that financial hardship is associated with significantly more screen time, particularly passive screen time, and screen time at excessive levels. We explore potential mechanisms for these associations.
ISSN:0933-1433
1432-1475
DOI:10.1007/s00148-021-00864-z