title: What can be learned from adolescent time diary research.
abstract: Time use is increasingly being recognized as a determinant and indicator of adolescent well-being internationally. Three existing literature reviews of time-use research with children and adolescents have identified time-use diaries as the preferred data collection method. Furthermore, they have encouraged researchers to examine multidimensional patterns of overall time use in large-sample whole child populations to better understand the health, well-being, and quality of life of children and young people. However, these three existing reviews differ in the time frames covered; the age ranges targeted; the categories of time use examined; and the time-use data collection and analysis methods used. This study aimed to map the extent and nature of time diary studies with well adolescents (aged 10-19 years) and the use of person-centered data analysis of overall time use as a multidimensional unit. Finally, it explores whether and how the included studies analyzed the relationship between time use and health, well-being, and quality of life. A scoping review method was employed using Arksey and O'Malley's five-step framework. Thirty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were secondary analyses of cross-sectional population-level time-use or lifestyle survey data. One-third of studies (n = 11) captured data representing 24 hours of the day. Two studies (6%) used person-centered analyses, while six studies (18%) empirically examined time use in relation to health and well-being. No studies examined adolescent 24-hour time use and quality of life. Adolescent time-use researchers are encouraged to be explicit in identifying the stage of adolescence to which their studies relate; capture 24-hour time-use data; analyze overall activity patterns as multidimensional units using person-centered methods; and use robust, reliable, valid, sensitive, and age-appropriate instruments to empirically examine time use and health, well-being, and quality of life. Through this, healthy patterns of everyday activity for adolescents can be illuminated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: e.hunt@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Eithne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Brunel University, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elizabeth Anne
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: McKay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D012106:Research; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Literature review; Teenager; Time use; Young people