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Time Use, Time Pressure and Gendered Behavior in Early and Late Adolescence

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Abstract

Using a stratified sample of Canadian adolescents residing in Ontario (n = 2,154) time use patterns and perceptions of time pressure are explored to determine gender differences among younger (12–14 years) and older adolescents (15–19 years). For both age groups, girls report a higher total workload of schoolwork, domestic activities and paid employment and spend more time on personal care while boys have more free time, especially during early adolescence. Feelings of time pressure for teens increase with age and are significantly higher for girls in both age categories. Gender differences are less pronounced on school days when time is fairly structured, but become more consistent with traditional gender schema on the weekend when time use is more discretionary.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information for financial support that enabled the collection and analyses of data reported in this article.

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Correspondence to Margo Hilbrecht.

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Hilbrecht, M., Zuzanek, J. & Mannell, R.C. Time Use, Time Pressure and Gendered Behavior in Early and Late Adolescence. Sex Roles 58, 342–357 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-007-9347-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-007-9347-5

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