The global human day.

The daily activities of ≈8 billion people occupy exactly 24 h per day, placing a strict physical limit on what changes can be achieved in the world. These activities form the basis of human behavior, and because of the global integration of societies and economies, many of these activities interact across national borders. Yet, there is no comprehensive overview of how the finite resource of time is allocated at the global scale. Here, we estimate how all humans spend their time using a generalized, physical outcome-based categorization that facilitates the integration of data from hundreds of diverse datasets. Our compilation shows that most waking hours are spent on activities intended to achieve direct outcomes for human minds and bodies (9.4 h/d), while 3.4 h/d are spent modifying our inhabited environments and the world beyond. The remaining 2.1 h/d are devoted to organizing social processes and transportation. We distinguish activities that vary strongly with GDP per capita, including the time allocated to food provision and infrastructure, vs. those that do not vary consistently, such as meals and transportation time. Globally, the time spent directly extracting materials and energy from the Earth system is small, on the order of 5 min per average human day, while the time directly dealing with waste is on the order of 1 min per day, suggesting a large potential scope to modify the allocation of time to these activities. Our results provide a baseline quantification of the temporal composition of global human life that can be expanded and applied to multiple fields of research.

Associations of 24 h time-use compositions of sitting, standing, physical activity and sleeping with optimal cardiometabolic risk and glycaemic control: The Maastricht Study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The associations of sitting, standing, physical activity and sleep with cardiometabolic health and glycaemic control markers are interrelated. We aimed to identify 24 h time-use compositions associated with optimal metabolic and glycaemic control and determine whether these varied by diabetes status. METHODS: Thigh-worn activPAL data from 2388 participants aged 40-75 years (48.7% female; mean age 60.1 [SD = 8.1] years; n=684 with type 2 diabetes) in The Maastricht Study were examined. Compositional isometric log ratios were generated from mean 24 h time use (sitting, standing, light-intensity physical activity [LPA], moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA] and sleeping) and regressed with outcomes of waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2 h plasma glucose, HbA1c, the Matsuda index expressed as z scores, and with a clustered cardiometabolic risk score. Overall analyses were adjusted for demographics, smoking, dietary intake and diabetes status, and interaction by diabetes status was examined separately. The estimated difference when substituting 30 min of one behaviour with another was determined with isotemporal substitution. To identify optimal time use, all combinations of 24 h compositions possible within the study footprint (1st-99th percentile of each behaviour) were investigated to determine those cross-sectionally associated with the most-optimal outcome (top 5%) for each outcome measure. RESULTS: Compositions lower in sitting time and with greater standing time, physical activity and sleeping had the most beneficial associations with outcomes. Associations were stronger in participants with type 2 diabetes (p<0.05 for interactions), with larger estimated benefits for waist circumference, FPG and HbA1c when sitting was replaced by LPA or MVPA in those with type 2 diabetes vs the overall sample. The mean (range) optimal compositions of 24 h time use, considering all outcomes, were 6 h (range 5 h 40 min-7 h 10 min) for sitting, 5 h 10 min (4 h 10 min-6 h 10 min) for standing, 2 h 10 min (2 h-2 h 20 min) for LPA, 2 h 10 min (1 h 40 min-2 h 20 min) for MVPA and 8 h 20 min (7 h 30 min-9 h) for sleeping. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Shorter sitting time and more time spent standing, undergoing physical activity and sleeping are associated with preferable cardiometabolic health. The substitutions of behavioural time use were significantly stronger in their associations with glycaemic control in those with type 2 diabetes compared with those with normoglycaemic metabolism, especially when sitting time was balanced with greater physical activity.

Changing adolescent activity patterns and the correlation of self-esteem and externalizing mental health symptoms across time: results from the USA from 1991 through 2020.

BACKGROUND: Common adolescent psychiatric symptoms cluster into two dominant domains: internalizing and externalizing. Both domains are linked to self-esteem, which serves as a protective factor against a wide range of internalizing and externalizing problems. This study examined trends in US adolescents' self-esteem and externalizing symptoms, and their correlation, by sex and patterns of time use. METHODS: Using Monitoring the Future data (N = 338 896 adolescents, grades:8/10/12, years:1991-2020), we generated six patterns of time use using latent profile analysis with 17 behavior items (e.g. sports participation, parties, paid work). Groups were differentiated by high/low engagement in sports and either paid work or high/low peer socialization. Within each group, we mapped annual, sex-stratified means of (and correlation between) self-esteem and externalizing factors. We also examined past-decade rates of change for factor means using linear regression and mapped proportions with top-quartile levels of poor self-esteem, externalizing symptoms, or both. RESULTS: We found consistent increases in poor self-esteem, decreases in externalizing symptoms, and a positive correlation between the two across nearly all activity groups. We also identified a relatively constant proportion of those with high levels of both in every group. Increases in poor self-esteem were most pronounced for female adolescents with low levels of socializing, among whom externalizing symptoms also increased. CONCLUSIONS: Rising trends in poor self-esteem are consistent across time use groups, as is the existence of a group facing poor self-esteem and externalizing symptoms. Effective interventions for adolescents' poor self-esteem/co-occurring symptoms are needed broadly, but especially among female adolescents with low peer socialization.

The Annual Rhythms in Sleep, Sedentary Behavior, and Physical Activity of Australian Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity have fundamental impacts on health and well-being. Little is known about how these behaviors vary across the year. PURPOSE: To investigate how movement-related behaviors change across days of the week and seasons, and describe movement patterns across a full year and around specific temporal events. METHODS: This cohort study included 368 adults (mean age = 40.2 years [SD = 5.9]) who wore Fitbit activity trackers for 12 months to collect minute-by-minute data on sleep, sedentary behavior, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Data were analyzed descriptively, as well as through multilevel mixed-effects linear regression to explore associations with specific temporal cycles (day-of-the-week, season) and events. RESULTS: Movement patterns varied significantly by day-of-the-week and season, as well as during annual events like Christmas-New Year and daylight saving time (DST) transitions. For example, sleep was longer on weekends (+32 min/day), during autumn and winter relative to summer (+4 and +11 min/day), and over Christmas-New Year (+24 min/day). Sedentary behavior was longer on weekdays, during winter, after Christmas-New Year, and after DST ended (+45, +7, +12, and +8 min/day, respectively). LPA was shorter in autumn, winter, and during and after Christmas-New Year (-6, -15, -17, and -31 min/day, respectively). Finally, there was less MVPA on weekdays and during winter (-5 min/day and -2 min/day, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Across the year, there were notable variations in movement behaviors. Identifying high-risk periods for unfavorable behavior changes may inform time-targeted interventions and health messaging.

Sleep, sedentary behavior, and physical activity have fundamental impacts on health and well-being, yet little is known about how these behaviors vary across the year. This study investigated how these behaviors change across days of the week, seasons, and a year, and around specific temporal events. The study included 368 middle-aged adults who wore Fitbit activity trackers for 12 months to collect minute-by-minute movement data. Statistical analyses showed movement patterns varied significantly by day-of-the-week and season, as well as during annual events like Christmas-New Year and daylight saving time transitions. For example, sleep was longer on weekends, during autumn and winter relative to summer, and over Christmas-New Year. Sedentary behavior was longer on weekdays, during winter, after Christmas-New Year, and after daylight savings time ended. Light physical activity was shorter in autumn, winter, and during and after Christmas-New Year. Finally, there was less moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on weekdays and during winter. Across the year, there were notable variations in movement patterns. Identifying high-risk periods for unfavorable behavior changes may inform time-targeted interventions and health messaging.

Validity and reliability of self-reported methods for assessment of 24-h movement behaviours: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Time spent in sleep, sedentary behaviour (SB), and physical activity are exhaustive and mutually exclusive parts of a 24-h day that need to be considered in a combination. The aim of this study was to identify validated self-reported tools for assessment of movement behaviours across the whole 24-h day, and to review their attributes and measurement properties. METHODS: The databases PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus were searched until September 2023. Inclusion criteria were: (i) published in English language, (ii) per-reviewed paper, (iii) assessment of self-reported time spent in sleep, SB, and physical activity, (iv) evaluation of measurement properties of all estimates across the full 24-h day, and (v) inclusion of adolescents, adults, or older adults. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments checklist. RESULTS: Our search returned 2064 records. After studies selection, we included 16 articles that reported construct validity and/or test-retest reliability of 12 unique self-reported tools - eight questionnaires, three time-use recalls, and one time-use diary. Most tools enable assessment of time spent in sleep, and domain-specific SB and physical activity, and account that sum of behaviours should be 24 h. Validity (and reliability) correlation coefficients for sleep ranged between 0.22 and 0.69 (0.41 and 0.92), for SB between 0.06 and 0.57 (0.33 and 0.91), for light-intensity physical activity between 0.18 and 0.46 (0.55 and 0.94), and for moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity between 0.38 and 0.56 (0.59 and 0.94). The quality of included studies being mostly fair-to-good. CONCLUSIONS: This review found that only a limited number of validated self-reported tools for assessment of 24-h movement behaviours are currently available. Validity and reliability of most tools are generally adequate to be used in epidemiological studies and population surveillance, while little is known about adequacy for individual level assessments and responsiveness to behavioural change. To further support research, policy, and practice, there is a need to develop new tools that resonate with the emerging 24-h movement paradigm and to evaluate measurement properties by using compositional data analysis. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022330868.

Cross-sectional associations between 24-hour time-use composition, grey matter volume and cognitive function in healthy older adults.

BACKGROUND: Increasing physical activity (PA) is an effective strategy to slow reductions in cortical volume and maintain cognitive function in older adulthood. However, PA does not exist in isolation, but coexists with sleep and sedentary behaviour to make up the 24-hour day. We investigated how the balance of all three behaviours (24-hour time-use composition) is associated with grey matter volume in healthy older adults, and whether grey matter volume influences the relationship between 24-hour time-use composition and cognitive function. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 378 older adults (65.6 ± 3.0 years old, 123 male) from the ACTIVate study across two Australian sites (Adelaide and Newcastle). Time-use composition was captured using 7-day accelerometry, and T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure grey matter volume both globally and across regions of interest (ROI: frontal lobe, temporal lobe, hippocampi, and lateral ventricles). Pairwise correlations were used to explore univariate associations between time-use variables, grey matter volumes and cognitive outcomes. Compositional data analysis linear regression models were used to quantify associations between ROI volumes and time-use composition, and explore potential associations between the interaction between ROI volumes and time-use composition with cognitive outcomes. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates (age, sex, education), there were no significant associations between time-use composition and any volumetric outcomes. There were significant interactions between time-use composition and frontal lobe volume for long-term memory (p = 0.018) and executive function (p = 0.018), and between time-use composition and total grey matter volume for executive function (p = 0.028). Spending more time in moderate-vigorous PA was associated with better long-term memory scores, but only for those with smaller frontal lobe volume (below the sample mean). Conversely, spending more time in sleep and less time in sedentary behaviour was associated with better executive function in those with smaller total grey matter volume. CONCLUSIONS: Although 24-hour time use was not associated with total or regional grey matter independently, total grey matter and frontal lobe grey matter volume moderated the relationship between time-use composition and several cognitive outcomes. Future studies should investigate these relationships longitudinally to assess whether changes in time-use composition correspond to changes in grey matter volume and cognition.

Losing sleep influences dietary intake in children: a longitudinal compositional analysis of a randomised crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Although inadequate sleep increases the risk of obesity in children, the mechanisms remain unclear. The aims of this study were to assess how sleep loss influenced dietary intake in children while accounting for corresponding changes in sedentary time and physical activity; and to investigate how changes in time use related to dietary intake. METHODS: A randomized crossover trial in 105 healthy children (8-12 years) with normal sleep (~ 8-11 h/night) compared sleep extension (asked to turn lights off one hour earlier than usual for one week) and sleep restriction (turn lights off one hour later) conditions, separated by a washout week. 24-h time-use behaviors (sleep, wake after sleep onset, physical activity, sedentary time) were assessed using waist-worn actigraphy and dietary intake using two multiple-pass diet recalls during each intervention week. Longitudinal compositional analysis was undertaken with mixed effects regression models using isometric log ratios of time use variables as exposures and dietary variables as outcomes, and participant as a random effect. RESULTS: Eighty three children (10.2 years, 53% female, 62% healthy weight) had 47.9 (SD 30.1) minutes less sleep during the restriction week but were also awake for 8.5 (21.4) minutes less at night. They spent this extra time awake in the day being more sedentary (+ 31 min) and more active (+ 21 min light physical activity, + 4 min MVPA). After adjusting for all changes in 24-h time use, losing 48 min of sleep was associated with consuming significantly more energy (262 kJ, 95% CI:55,470), all of which was from non-core foods (314 kJ; 43, 638). Increases in sedentary time were related to increased energy intake from non-core foods (177 kJ; 25, 329) whereas increases in MVPA were associated with higher intake from core foods (72 kJ; 7,136). Changes in diet were greater in female participants. CONCLUSION: Loss of sleep was associated with increased energy intake, especially of non-core foods, independent of changes in sedentary time and physical activity. Interventions focusing on improving sleep may be beneficial for improving dietary intake and weight status in children. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ANZCTR ACTRN12618001671257, Registered 10th Oct 2018, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367587&isReview=true.

Assessing association of household diet diversity with mother's time use on productive and reproductive activities: a case for gender sensitive social safety nets.

OBJECTIVE: In South Asia, while women make substantial economic contributions through their participation in agricultural sector, these contributions are undercounted as most of their work is underpaid or unpaid. This paper examines how mothers allocate their time to productive and reproductive activities and its association with a household's ability to achieve high household diet diversity score. DESIGN: The analysis uses data on household consumption and expenditure including food during the kharif (June to October) season (seeds are sown) and a modular time-use survey. SETTING: Two districts of rural Bihar, India. PARTICIPANTS: Mothers with children less than 5 years of age and supported by the head of the household from 2026 households. RESULTS: The estimates indicate that the high household diet diversity (High HDDS ≥ 10) is associated with greater time spent in reproductive activities by all women (OR = 1·12, 95 % CI: 1·06, 1·18). However, with increasing time spent in productive activities by the women the odds of achieving 'High HDDS' reduced (OR = 0·83, 95 % CI: 0·77, 0·89) in adjusted logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight propensity to achieve 'High HDDS' in Bihar increased with mothers allocating time towards reproductive activities, while it had an opposing effect with mothers allocating time on productive activities. Our study highlights that the policies that encourage women's participation in agriculture or livestock should acknowledge the unpaid nature of some of the productive activities and design programs to improve economic agency of women to actuate the true potential of agriculture-nutrition pathways.

Trends in adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines among US adolescents from 2011 to 2019: Evidence from repeated cross-sectional cycles of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines is associated with various health benefits, but given the novelty of these integrative recommendations, little is known about year-to-year trends in guideline adherence in adolescents. This study investigated trends of adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines among US adolescents. METHODS: Data from 2011 to 2019 cycles of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System were used, which included 62 589 US adolescents aged 14-17 years (female: unweighted sample size = 31 876, 51%; weighted% = 50.1%). Participants self-reported their demographic information (i.e., sex, age, race/ethnicity), physical activity, screen time and sleep duration. Meeting the 24-h movement guidelines was operationalized as simultaneously engaging in 60 min or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, no more than 2 h of screen time, and 8-10 h of sleep per day. Trend analysis was used to examine the secular changes in adherence to the integrated guidelines from 2011 to 2019. RESULTS: Downward trends in adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines were observed among adolescents from 2011 (3.6%) to 2019 (2.6%). After stratification by sex, age, and race/ethnicity, similar downward trends in the guideline adherence were observed in females and Black/African American adolescents. The lowest prevalence of meeting the individual guidelines was for the PA guidelines (25.6%). Movement guideline adherence was consistently lowest among females, older adolescents, and those who identified as Black/African American. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to the 24-h movement guidelines has declined among US adolescents over the past decade. Interventions should prioritize an integrative approach that could increase concurrent adherence to each of the 24-h movement guideline, particularly among female, older and minority adolescents.

An organizational working time reduction and its impact on three domains of mental well-being of employees: a panel study.

BACKGROUND: Work hours are an important aspect of one's job and these in turn have the potential to impact people's well-being. Much research investigating the link between working hours and well-being uses cross-sectional data. Longitudinal studies, especially those studying the same subjects changing their working time, can study the impact of work time more clearly. Using panel data, this study aims to explore the impact of a reduction in working time on three domains of well-being: general well-being, job-related well-being (positive work experience) and work-family well-being (work-family conflict). In addition, our study offers insights into the role of concomitant changes in work and private circumstances of employees as we investigate whether the impact of shorter working hours for well-being is mediated by changes in the participants' and circumstances related to paid and unpaid work resources. METHOD: An organization of about 60 (female) employees trialed a shorter workweek for one calendar year in 2019. All full-time employees reduced their hours. The part-time working employees can be used as a control group. Panel data (survey and time-use diary data) of a 30-h workweek trial in Belgium was collected in four waves over two years in a pre- and post-intervention design. Change over time (waves) was analyzed through multilevel growth models. RESULT: A decrease in work-family conflict was observed during the shorter workweek. Part of this decrease is explained by concomitant changes in work and private circumstances, such as sufficiency in free time, schedule control, and satisfaction with work pressure. Positive work experience and general well-being tend to have decreased during the shorter workweek, although this could partly be explained by other organizational changes and not by the reduction in working hours per se. Schedule control helped suppress these somewhat negative effects of organizational changes on positive work experience. CONCLUSION: Reduced working hours have the largest and most positive impact on work-family conflict. The feeling of having enough leisure time contributes to this increased well-being. Especially for women, who were the majority in this study, a reduction in working time might be beneficial as they often bear more responsibility for household work and care tasks. Next to the duration of working time, schedule control/autonomy has an important impact on well-being.

A longitudinal study on changes in weekend leisure time by age groups in Korea (1999-2019).

BACKGROUND: Data analysis was conducted on 20 years (1999-2019) of the Korean Time Use Survey (KTUS) to identify differences and characteristics among each types by extracting latent clusters of weekend leisure activities. METHODS: Using data from the KTUS, we classified weekend leisure time activities into 6 distinct categories. To identify the latent clusters for each year's KTUS data, we utilized latent profile analysis (LPA). Furthermore, independent samples t-tests and one-way ANOVA were conducted to investigate the characteristics of each latent cluster. RESULTS: As a result of leisure time analysis by survey period, media use accounted for the largest share in all three age groups. The results of the LPA, which included media, sports, culture, and tourism, revealed that the distribution of leisure time for these activities was lower throughout the entire study period. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to explore constructive leisure activities and to develop policy measures to promote the domestic leisure industry and leisure consumption.

Parent-Child Time During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from the American Time Use Survey.

OBJECTIVES: To examine how the time parents spent with their children changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Using nationally representative time-diary data from the American Time Use Survey, parents' time spent in and location of enriching (direct) and secondary (supervisory) childcare among a sample with at one child under 6 years (N = 2,862) and 6-12 years of age (N = 3,595) from May 2020 to December 2021 were compared to January 2019 to March 2020. RESULTS: Parents' time in secondary childcare at home increased substantially. Parents with children under age 6 increased their enriching childcare time, driven by mothers. Low-income parents with children aged 6-12 showed a decrease in enriching time with children, whereas higher-income parents with school-age children showed an increase. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: Parents' time in supervisory childcare increased substantially, and gender and income disparities in enriching time spent engaged with children grew. Examining parent-child time use patterns is important to understand the pandemic's effects and can provide insight on how best to support children and families during the recovery.

Using time-use diaries to track changing behavior across successive stages of COVID-19 social restrictions.

How did people change their behavior over the different phases of the UK COVID-19 restrictions, and how did these changes affect their risk of being exposed to infection? Time-use diary surveys are unique in providing a complete chronicle of daily behavior: 24-h continuous records of the populations' activities, their social context, and their location. We present results from four such surveys, collected in real time from representative UK samples, both before and at three points over the course of the current pandemic. Comparing across the four waves, we find evidence of substantial changes in the UK population's behavior relating to activities, locations, and social context. We assign different levels of risk to combinations of activities, locations, and copresence to compare risk-related behavior across successive "lockdowns." We find evidence that during the second lockdown (November 2020), there was an increase in high-risk behaviors relative to the first (starting March 2020). This increase is shown to be associated with more paid work time in the workplace. At a time when capacity is still limited both in respect of immunization and track-trace technology, governments must continue to rely on changes in people's daily behaviors to contain the spread of COVID-19 and similar viruses. Time-use diary information of this type, collected in real time across the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, can provide policy makers with information to assess and quantify changes in daily behaviors and the impact they are likely to have on overall behavioral-associated risks.

Out-of-school time use in Pakistan: A qualitative study featuring youth's voices.

The current study addresses the lack of out-of-school time (OST) research in low- and middle-income countries by exploring OST use in the context of Pakistan and incorporating youth's voices. Using a qualitative descriptive design with focus-group discussions, we conducted a study in three middle schools set in low- to middle-income neighborhoods in urban and rural areas of Karachi, Pakistan. We engaged 86 youth (50% girls; aged 10-15 years) that were purposefully selected from grade six (31.4%), seven (44.2%) and eight (24.4%) classrooms, balancing gender and locality. In each focus group, we asked participants to describe their afterschool activity routine on a typical weekday afternoon until bedtime. Digital recordings of discussions were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. Based on sixteen focus groups with five to six participants in each group, we identified eight distinct categories: religious activities, schoolwork, screentime, helping adult family members, family time, outdoor play, indoor leisure activities, and hanging out with friends. We found that structured activities (e.g., religious activities and schoolwork supervised by an adult) were reported more frequently than unstructured activities (e.g., outdoor play and family time). Participation in activities varied by gender and location (i.e., urban vs. rural), highlighting disparities associated with the sociocultural context that marginalized youth face. Our findings provide a glimpse into the everyday lives of Pakistani youth outside of school. Additionally, they elucidate how economic resources, sociocultural norms regarding gender, and community safety shape youth's time use and socialization patterns. Findings from this study can inform the development of OST activities and initiatives aimed at promoting the positive development of Pakistani youth.

Quantity and quality of physical activity during adolescence: Evidence from a mixed-method study in rural Telangana, India.

Adolescence is a unique transitional stage of physical and psychological development. As preferences and behavioural choices adopted in adolescence influence lifelong physical activity habits and health outcomes in adulthood, rural transformation in low- and middle-income countries has the potential to significantly change traditional roles and shape the next generation. By using a mixed-method approach that integrates energy expenditure estimates from accelerometer devices with 24-hour recall time-use data from adolescent boys and girls and qualitative interviews with adolescents and their caregivers, this study sheds light on the patterns of quantity and quality of physical activity of 395 adolescents in Khammam and Mahbubnagar districts of rural Telangana, India. The study shows that energy expenditure and time use are highest for educational-related activities followed by leisure in both adolescent boys and girls. However, notwithstanding the process of rural transformation and the educational infrastructure and economic opportunities provided to adolescent boys and girls, social and cultural norms allow boys, especially in late adolescence to spend more time and energy in activities outside the home such as pursuing economic work, sports and socialising, while girls spend more time and energy at home doing domestic work. The quantitative and qualitative exploration of physical activity and time use among adolescents, as expounded in this study cutting across age groups and gender, highlights the need for changes in gendered norms and renewed government strategies and investments in that direction.

Before-school physical activity levels and sociodemographic correlates among Australian adolescents: A cross-sectional study.

Understanding adolescents' physical activity levels and underpinning contextual factors is crucial for health promotion. This cross-sectional study, using 24-hour time use diaries and sociodemographic variables from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, addressed gaps in understanding of physical activity in the before-school segment (the time between waking up and commencing classes). The study examined a) adolescents' time spent in before-school physical activity, focusing on location and shared presence, and b) sociodemographic correlates of before-school physical activity. Completed diaries by 12-13 year-olds (n = 3,201) revealed that adolescents reported an average of 10.8 minutes of daily before-school physical activity (average segment length: 114 min), mostly classified as active transport (5.7 min). Most before-school physical activity occurred in a location other than home or school (6.1 min) and with peers (6.1 min). Notably, 51% of boys and 60% of girls did not report any before-school physical activity. Through two-part regression, we found that boys, adolescents from single-parent households, and those with longer before-school segments are more likely to report before-school physical activity compared to their counterparts. Before-school initiatives should promote active transport and diverse opportunities in other settings. Research into barriers and facilitators may inform more inclusive and effective promotion strategies, including school-based initiatives.

Integrating work into life helps reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions.

Work from home (WFH) creates work-life integration by moving work into traditional life at home, but its influence on residential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remains unclear. In this study, an activity-based bottom-up model was developed to analyze the time-use patterns (activity durations and timeline of a typical day) of participants under WFH and traditional home life and to quantify their residential GHG emissions. Under WFH, participants generated an average of 9.03 kg CO2e/person/day, primarily attributed to space heating and cooling, cooking, grooming, work, and watching TV and movies. Notably, the GHG footprints varied across groups (8.08-9.93 kg CO2e/person/day) due to different work and household responsibilities and leisure time and varied with climate region (4.99-10.63 kg CO2e/person/day) because of emission factors of electricity, space heating and cooling, and cooking. Compared with traditional life at home (10.06 kg CO2e/person/day), WFH participants spent less time on almost all major activities (especially sleeping and watching TV and movies) to focus on work, enabling an 11.34% (1.02 kg CO2e/person/day) mitigation of GHG emissions. The reductions also varied by group and climate region, mainly associated with laundry, cooking, and watching TV and movies. Opportunities to reduce GHG emissions under WFH lie in targeting key activities, balancing the time spent on various activities, and developing group- and spatial-specific strategies. This study provides a systematic and high-resolution estimation of residential GHG emissions under WFH and traditional home life, with a complete system boundary, activity-specific considerations, and countrywide understanding. The findings reveal the environmental impact of work-life integration from the residential perspective and can aid residents and policymakers in utilizing decarbonization opportunities to advance low-carbon living under WFH.

The costs of Suaahara II, a complex scaled-up multisectoral nutrition programme in Nepal.

Limited evidence exists on the costs of scaled-up multisectoral nutrition programmes. Such evidence is crucial to assess intervention value and affordability. Evidence is also lacking on the opportunity costs of implementers and participants engaging in community-level interventions. We help to fill this gap by estimating the full financial and economic costs of the United States Agency for International Development-funded Suaahara II (SII) programme, a scaled-up multisectoral nutrition programme in Nepal (2016-2023). We applied a standardized mixed methods costing approach to estimate total and unit costs over a 3.7-year implementation period. Financial expenditure data from national and subnational levels were combined with economic cost estimates assessed using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with staff, volunteers, community members, and government partners in four representative districts. The average annual total cost was US$908,948 per district, with economic costs accounting for 47% of the costs. The annual unit cost was US$132 per programme participant (mother in the 1000-day period between conception and a child's second birthday) reached. Annual costs ranged from US$152 (mountains) to US$118 (plains) per programme participant. Personnel (63%) were the largest input cost driver, followed by supplies (11%). Community events (29%) and household counselling visits (17%) were the largest activity cost drivers. Volunteer cadres contributed significant time to the programme, with female community health volunteers spending a substantial amount of time (27 h per month) on SII activities. Multisectoral nutrition programmes can be costly, especially when taking into consideration volunteer and participant opportunity costs. This study provides much-needed evidence of the costs of scaled-up multisectoral nutrition programmes for future comparison against benefits.

Time use surveys, social practice theory, and activity connections.

Social practice theory (SPT) represents a growing body of research that takes the 'doings and sayings' (social practices) of everyday life as its core unit of enquiry. Time use surveys (TUS) represent a substantial source of micro-data regarding how activities are performed across the 24-h day. Given their apparent complementarities, we ask why TUS have not been utilised more extensively within SPT-inspired research. We advance two contentions: (1) ontological tensions obscure the relevance of TUS data in addressing core SPT research questions, and (2) SPT concepts do not readily translate for application in TUS analysis. In response, we operationalise Schatzki's (2019) concepts of activity events and chains to explore types and forms of temporal activity connection. Using TUS data we examine three activity events: sleeping, reading, and eating. Two types of temporal activity connection (sequence and synchronisation) are identified, together with four forms of connectivity (degrees of uniformity/diversity, sequential directionality, time-varying connections, and symmetrical/asymmetrical relationships). While practices cannot be reduced to activity connections, we argue that this analytical approach offers a systematic basis for examining the ways in which activities combine to underpin the organisation of social practices. Further analysis to compare activity connections across practices, between different groups of practitioners, and over time would offer a valuable resource to empirically examine claims regarding core processes of societal change. We further contend that SPT approaches offer insights for time use research by providing a framework capable of recognising that activities are dynamic and variable rather than homogeneous and stable categories.

Time use of patients in a secure forensic hospital: A mixed methods study.

INTRODUCTION: Forensic mental health services balance recovery-focussed therapy with risk management, which may limit opportunities for participation in meaningful occupation. Previous research describes forensic patients in secure settings participating mainly in passive leisure and sleep. This study aimed to use quantitative and qualitative evidence to investigate how patients in the sub-acute and rehabilitation units of an Australian forensic hospital perceive and use their time and to discuss how the findings compare with the previous study within the organisation, published in 2004. METHOD: An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used with convenience sampling of patients and purposive sampling of staff. Patients completed time use diaries followed by semi-structured interviews. Staff perceptions were obtained via survey. RESULTS: Seven male patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and five staff members (three occupational therapists and two nurses) participated. Time use diaries indicated patients spent most time in personal care, passive recreation, and leisure activities. Qualitative data illustrated patient time use was influenced by the individualised meaningfulness of activities. Patients drew meaning from past roles, personal interests/needs, and their goals for recovery. While patients had some choice over how time is spent and with whom they chose to engage, external factors such as staff/program availability prevented their having full control. Staff provided additional perspectives on the links between time use and recovery, identifying enablers and barriers to meaningful time use. CONCLUSION: Patient time use has not changed significantly when compared to past research, although perceptions of time use are more future and recovery-focussed. The amount of time recorded in activities typically associated with recovery does not necessarily capture the quality and benefit of that time use. Patient participation continues to be influenced by broader systems.