Parents, employment, gender and well-being: a time use study

Transformations in the economy have led to changes in employment practices that can create a mismatch between parents’ work schedules and family routines. At the same time, approaches to child-rearing have become more time-intensive, with expectations of increased parental involvement in all aspects of children’s lives compared to previous generations. Mothers are subject to a more intensified maternal role and for fathers, the provider role is no longer sufficient. There are strong social pressures for more active participation in children’s lives and to nurture greater emotional connectivity in the parent-child relationship. These transformations in parenting and employment practices have contributed to a situation where parents now report increased levels of time pressure and greater dissatisfaction with the balance between work and the rest of their lives. The purpose of this study was to develop a broader understanding of how mothers and fathers with school-age children allocate their time, how it varies by household composition, season of the year, and work schedule, and how time use is related to subjective well-being. Given the role that leisure may play in creating a more satisfactory work-life balance, special attention was given to the amount of time available for leisure, with whom this time was spent and the relationship to quality of life. The gender relations perspective provided a theoretical framework since role expectations and experiences of parenthood differ for mothers and fathers. By considering individual, interpersonal, institutional and socio-historical levels of influence, patterns of behaviour may be better understood within the Canadian social context. This study is a secondary analysis of the 2005 Canadian General Social Survey, Cycle 19. Using a sub-sample of 2,062 parents of school-age children (ages 5-17 years), patterns of time use and perceptions of quality of life were assessed and compared by gender according to household composition, season of the school year, work schedule and flexible work option. Work schedules were categorized as traditional (daytime, no weekends), non-standard (evening, weekend and rotating shifts) and irregular (unpredictable, with “on call”, casual, or other irregular patterns). Gender inequality in the allocation of time to important life spheres remained substantial even when faced with very complex challenges in coordinating employment arrangements, family routines, and the school year schedule. With the exception of single fathers, men spent more time on employment-related activities than women regardless of work schedule, while women continued to perform greater amounts of domestic and child care activities. Combined workloads of paid and unpaid labour were significantly different only among single mothers and fathers. For married or cohabitating parents, the distribution of paid and unpaid labour was asymmetrical but the combined workload was not significantly different. Fathers continued to be privileged with greater amounts of leisure time. This was especially noticeable for men with non-standard work schedules and fathers of teenage children. Seasonal differences in time use indicated that women’s routines were more linked to the school year than men’s because of their greater child care responsibilities. When irregular or non-standard schedules were in place that could create more optimal conditions for reconsidering time allocation, parents still followed activity patterns that reproduced traditional gender roles. For women, non-standard schedules were the most detrimental to quality of life, whereas for men irregular schedules decreased well-being. Flexible schedules also perpetuated inequality in the distribution of paid work, unpaid work and leisure although quality of life actually improved for women. This improved quality of life may be attributable to more time spent on activities with physical health benefits or increased options for daily schedules, but it also leads to questions about how much control mothers actually have over their time and whether they recognize or care to challenge the inequalities that persist in the distribution of labour and leisure. Quality of life was diminished by conditions that contributed to a deviation from traditional role expectations. Some of these included not having a partner, women’s work schedules that conflicted with other family members, and for men, having an irregular and unpredictable work schedule. Since these conditions are characteristic of a sizable minority of Canadians parents, their experiences should not be dismissed but rather given greater attention. Additionally, future discussions of work-life integration should consider access to leisure since time for leisure was shown to contribute to parents’ quality of life. The gender relations perspective proved to be helpful in interpreting and understanding the dynamics of time use and behaviour. The four levels of interaction were highly interconnected, but changing institutional conditions such as employment schedules did not lead to greater equality. Instead, non-traditional work schedules widened the gender gap, particularly for child care and domestic activities. Dominant parenting practices were shown to be so deeply imbedded that stereotypical patterns remained a prevailing force guiding men’s and women’s daily activities. The GSS data, despite some limitations, provided considerable insight into the effect of parents’ employment and gender on time use and well-being. The findings of this study underscore the relevance of considering multiple levels of influence when assessing parenting practices, gendered behaviour, and quality of life for employed parents

Gambling-related harms: Developing priorities for harm reduction policy setting

As jurisdictions worldwide have overseen gambling expansion, most have implemented regulatory and public policy regimes to reduce harm. This study was conducted to specify the nature and extent of gambling-related harm that public policy efforts could prevent or mitigate in Ontario, Canada. Research has historically operationalized harm from gambling as cases of disordered gambling; and policy work has focused on the prevalence and treatment of these cases. Recent work to fully conceptualize and measure gambling-related harm in individual gamblers, their families, and communities (Blaszczynski et al, 2015, Browne et al., 2016, 2017; Langham et al., 2016,) dovetailed with the desire of policy makers in Ontario to measure the return on investment (ROI) of harm reduction efforts. To develop priorities for harm reduction policy-setting, investigators conducted extensive literature reviews, Delphi consensus process, in-depth interviews, and knowledge translation workshops with two informant groups: international research experts on gambling harm; and, Ontario policy leaders from ministries and agencies involved in gambling operation, regulation, and harm reduction. Findings outline expert opinion of effective evaluation metrics, data requirements, stakeholder roles, and harm reduction strategies. This research contributes methodological and evidentiary guidance for policy makers to identify priority harms and measure ROI from harm reduction programming

The Relationship between Physical Inactivity and Family Life Course Stage

Physical inactivity is a well-documented risk factor for numerous chronic diseases and a major public health problem in Canada. Since social-ecological models suggest that behaviour is influenced by the person as well as the social and physical environment, it is important to be sensitive to other factors when examining physical activity participation. The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between physical inactivity, marital status and family stage for men and women in Canada. The study was based on data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, Cycle 2.1, for adults aged 18-64 living with a spouse or partner (with or without children) or single living with children. Respondents were classified as inactive or active according to self-reported leisure-time physical activity. Logistic regression was used to examine gender differences in the relationship between household composition and physical inactivity. Explanatory variables included parents’ age, sex, age of youngest child, income adequacy and interview mode. Family stage was significantly associated with adult physical inactivity levels. Individuals with very young children (\u3c 6 years old) were more likely to be inactive compared to childless adults or those with older children (\u3e12 years old). Having children between 6-12 years old was related to increased physical activity, possibly due to more family leisure pursuits involving physical activity. Living with a partner was associated with greater physical inactivity, particularly when controlling for income adequacy. Furthermore, those with high income adequacy were less likely to be inactive, and having a very young child increased this difference. In conclusion, family life course stage and income adequacy were most influential in determining levels of physical inactivity. Therefore, physically active leisure programs targeting adults with very young children, particularly those at lower income levels, may be helpful in increasing physical activity and decreasing health risks associated with inactivity. Margo Hilbrecht is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Guelph’s Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being. She recently received her Ph.D. from the University of Waterloo in Recreation and Leisure Studies. Her research focuses on time use and work-life integration as it pertains to non-traditional work arrangements, gender and leisure. These interests extend to perceptions of time pressure and stress associated with the coordination of employment, school, and leisure activities in families with school-age children. Her current research explores the social and health consequences of unpredictable work schedules for parents employed in the retail sector

Do parents matter? Teens’ time use, academic performance and well-being.

Cadre de recherche : L'écart générationnel grandissant entre les parents et adolescents a retenu l'attention des chercheurs depuis les années 1920. L'augmentation de cet écart a souvent été attribuée au rôle croissant des médias et des pairs dans la vie des adolescents.Objectifs de recherche : Les changements dans le rôle joué par les parents, les médias et les pairs dans la vie des adolescents sont examinés à la lumière de leur gestion du temps. Les données sur l'emploi du temps documentent le rôle déclinant des parents, mais montrent également que des stratégies constructives de la gestion du temps peuvent aider les parents à conserver et à renforcer leur rôle dans le développement intellectuel et affectif de leurs adolescents. Méthodologie : Les données proviennent de l’Enquête sociale générale menée par Statistique Canada (ESM) (1986 à 2005) et de l’Enquête ontarienne sur l’emploi du temps et le bien-être des adolescents de 2003 (OATUS). Les relations entre l'utilisation du temps des adolescents et le bien-être émotionnel sont contrôlées pour l'âge, le sexe et les antécédents familiaux. Résultats : Malgré l’élargissement de l'écart de communication et d'attitude entre les adolescents et les parents au cours des dernières décennies, la situation n'est pas irrémédiable. Les analyses des données d'OATUS suggèrent que les stratégies indirectes, soulignant l'importance des routines et des relations familiales, ont des impacts plus importants sur les performances scolaires et la qualité de vie des adolescents que les règles domestiques, les interventions verbales ou les contrôles comportementaux sporadiques.Conclusions : La conservation de l’influence parentale sur les adolescents s’effectue peut-être davantage par « osmose » des valeurs et des habitudes. En effet, le partage des valeurs familiales, des activités communes et la capacité parentale à servir de modèle joue un rôle important dans l'influence des structures de motivation des adolescents.Contribution : Les résultats de cette recherche appuient le fait que les performances scolaires et le bien-être émotionnel des adolescents sont fondés sur leurs routines comportementales et l'efficacité des interventions des parents.Research framework: The widening generation gap between parents and teens has occupied researchers’ attention since the 1920s. The expansion of this gap has been often attributed to the growing roles of mass media and peers in teens’ lives. Objectives: Changes in the role played by parents, mass media and peers in the lives of teens are examined through the lens of time use. Time use data document the declining role of parents, but also show that constructive time use strategies can help parents to retain and enforce their role in teens’ intellectual and emotional development. Methodology: Data are taken from the Canadian General Social Surveys (1986 to 2005) and the 2003 Ontario Experience Sampling Survey of Adolescents’ Time Use and Well-Being. Relationships between teens’ time use and emotional well-being are controlled for age, gender, and family background. Results: Although the communication and attitudinal gap between teens and parents widened during the past decades, the situation is not irremediable. Analyses of OATUS data suggest that indirect strategies, emphasising the importance of time use routines and habitual inter-family relationships, affect teens’ academic performance and quality of life more profoundly than household rules, verbal interventions, or sporadic behavioural controls. Conclusions: Perhaps the most powerful but underestimated leverage that parents have to protect their share of influence on teens is the social ‘osmosis’ of family values and practices. The seemingly imperceptible sharing of family values, joint activities, and parental ability to serve as a model play an important role in affecting teens’ motivational structures. Contribution: The proposition that teens' academic performance and emotional well-being are grounded in their behavioural routines, and that the effectiveness of parents’ interventions depends to a large extent on their ability to redress these routines or habits is supported by research findings

Emploi du temps, résultats scolaires et bien-être chez les adolescents. Quel rôle pour les parents ?

Research framework : The widening generation gap between parents and teens has occupied researchers’ attention since the 1920s. The expansion of this gap has been often attributed to the growing roles of mass media and peers in teens’ lives. Objectives : Changes in the role played by parents, mass media and peers in the lives of teens are examined through the lens of time use. Time use data document the declining role of parents, but also show that constructive time use strategies can help parents to retain and enforce their role in teens’ intellectual and emotional development. Methodology : Data are taken from the Canadian General Social Surveys (1986 to 2005) and the 2003 Ontario Experience Sampling Survey of Adolescents’ Time Use and Well-Being. Relationships between teens’ time use and emotional well-being are controlled for age, gender, and family background. Results : Although the communication and attitudinal gap between teens and parents widened during the past decades, the situation is not irremediable. Analyses of OATUS data suggest that indirect strategies, emphasising the importance of time use routines and habitual inter-family relationships, affect teens’ academic performance and quality of life more profoundly than household rules, verbal interventions, or sporadic behavioural controls. Conclusion : Perhaps the most powerful but underestimated leverage that parents have to protect their share of influence on teens is the social ‘osmosis’ of family values and practices. The seemingly imperceptible sharing of family values, joint activities, and parental ability to serve as a model play an important role in affecting teens’ motivational structures. Contribution : The proposition that teens’ academic performance and emotional well-being are grounded in their behavioural routines, and that the effectiveness of parents’ interventions depends to a large extent on their ability to redress these routines or habits is supported by research findings

Emploi du temps, résultats scolaires et bien-être chez les adolescents. Quel rôle pour les parents ?

Cadre de recherche : L’écart générationnel grandissant entre les parents et adolescents a retenu l’attention des chercheurs depuis les années 1920. L’augmentation de cet écart a souvent été attribuée au rôle croissant des médias et des pairs dans la vie des adolescents. Objectifs : Les changements dans le rôle joué par les parents, les médias et les pairs dans la vie des adolescents sont examinés à la lumière de leur gestion du temps. Les données sur l’emploi du temps documentent le rôle déclinant des parents, mais montrent également que des stratégies constructives de la gestion du temps peuvent aider les parents à conserver et à renforcer leur rôle dans le développement intellectuel et affectif de leurs adolescents.Méthodologie : Les données proviennent de l’Enquête sociale générale menée par Statistique Canada (ESG) (1986 à 2005) et de l’Enquête ontarienne sur l’emploi du temps et le bien-être des adolescents de 2003 (OATUS). Les relations entre l’utilisation du temps des adolescents et le bien-être émotionnel sont contrôlées pour l’âge, le sexe et les antécédents familiaux.Résultats : Malgré l’élargissement de l’écart de communication et d’attitude entre les adolescents et les parents au cours des dernières décennies, la situation n’est pas irrémédiable. Les analyses des données d’OATUS suggèrent que les stratégies indirectes, soulignant l’importance des routines et des relations familiales, ont des impacts plus importants sur les performances scolaires et la qualité de vie des adolescents que les règles domestiques, les interventions verbales ou les contrôles comportementaux sporadiques.Conclusions : La conservation de l’influence parentale sur les adolescents s’effectue peut-être davantage par « osmose » des valeurs et des habitudes. En effet, le partage des valeurs familiales, des activités communes et la capacité parentale à servir de modèle joue un rôle important dans l’influence des structures de motivation des adolescents.Contribution : Les résultats de cette recherche appuient le fait que les performances scolaires et le bien-être émotionnel des adolescents sont fondés sur leurs routines comportementales et l’efficacité des interventions des parents.Research framework : The widening generation gap between parents and teens has occupied researchers’ attention since the 1920s. The expansion of this gap has been often attributed to the growing roles of mass media and peers in teens’ lives. Objectives : Changes in the role played by parents, mass media and peers in the lives of teens are examined through the lens of time use. Time use data document the declining role of parents, but also show that constructive time use strategies can help parents to retain and enforce their role in teens’ intellectual and emotional development. Methodology : Data are taken from the Canadian General Social Surveys (1986 to 2005) and the 2003 Ontario Experience Sampling Survey of Adolescents’ Time Use and Well-Being. Relationships between teens’ time use and emotional well-being are controlled for age, gender, and family background. Results : Although the communication and attitudinal gap between teens and parents widened during the past decades, the situation is not irremediable. Analyses of OATUS data suggest that indirect strategies, emphasising the importance of time use routines and habitual inter-family relationships, affect teens’ academic performance and quality of life more profoundly than household rules, verbal interventions, or sporadic behavioural controls. Conclusion : Perhaps the most powerful but underestimated leverage that parents have to protect their share of influence on teens is the social ‘osmosis’ of family values and practices. The seemingly imperceptible sharing of family values, joint activities, and parental ability to serve as a model play an important role in affecting teens’ motivational structures. Contribution : The proposition that teens’ academic performance and emotional well-being are grounded in their behavioural routines, and that the effectiveness of parents’ interventions depends to a large extent on their ability to redress these routines or habits is supported by research findings

Do parents matter? Teens’ time use, academic performance and well-being.

Research framework: The widening generation gap between parents and teens has occupied researchers’ attention since the 1920s. The expansion of this gap has been often attributed to the growing roles of mass media and peers in teens’ lives. Objectives: Changes in the role played by parents, mass media and peers in the lives of teens are examined through the lens of time use. Time use data document the declining role of parents, but also show that constructive time use strategies can help parents to retain and enforce their role in teens’ intellectual and emotional development. Methodology: Data are taken from the Canadian General Social Surveys (1986 to 2005) and the 2003 Ontario Experience Sampling Survey of Adolescents’ Time Use and Well-Being. Relationships between teens’ time use and emotional well-being are controlled for age, gender, and family background. Results: Although the communication and attitudinal gap between teens and parents widened during the past decades, the situation is not irremediable. Analyses of OATUS data suggest that indirect strategies, emphasising the importance of time use routines and habitual inter-family relationships, affect teens’ academic performance and quality of life more profoundly than household rules, verbal interventions, or sporadic behavioural controls. Conclusions: Perhaps the most powerful but underestimated leverage that parents have to protect their share of influence on teens is the social ‘osmosis’ of family values and practices. The seemingly imperceptible sharing of family values, joint activities, and parental ability to serve as a model play an important role in affecting teens’ motivational structures. Contribution: The proposition that teens' academic performance and emotional well-being are grounded in their behavioural routines, and that the effectiveness of parents’ interventions depends to a large extent on their ability to redress these routines or habits is supported by research findings

The Conceptual Framework of Harmful Gambling: A revised framework for understanding gambling harm

The harmful effects of gambling have been studied for decades in an attempt to understand individual differences in gambling involvement and the risk of gambling-related problems. In this presentation, we outline a recently updated, internationally relevant Conceptual Framework of Harmful Gambling that moves beyond a symptoms-based view of harm and addresses a broad set of factors related to population risk, community, and societal effects. Interrelated factors depicted in the framework represent major themes in gambling that range from the specific (gambling environment, exposure, gambling types, and treatment resources) to the general (cultural, social, psychological, and biological influences). Coauthored by international research experts and informed by multiple stakeholders, Gambling Research Exchange Ontario (GREO) facilitated the framework development, mobilization, and retains responsibility for regular updates. After outlining the framework, we highlight new topics such as the convergence of gaming and gambling, social and economic impacts, and an expanded gender section. Implications for education, funding proposals, and treatment will be presented. We also describe the process of bringing together a diverse group of experts to collaborate on the project, while respecting the range of disciplinary training and perspectives that need to be supported to create a comprehensive framework. Statement of Implications: The framework reflects the current state of research evidence related to factors influencing harmful gambling. It can guide the development of research programs and stakeholder education on harmful gambling issues. The multi-disciplinary perspective contributed by a panel of international research experts ensures a comprehensive approach to understanding harmful gambling

Introduction to the Special Issue on Disability and Work: Toward Re-Conceptualizing the 'Burden' of Disability

No abstract availabl

Emploi du temps, résultats scolaires et bien-être chez les adolescents. Quel rôle pour les parents ?

Cadre de recherche : L’écart générationnel grandissant entre les parents et adolescents a retenu l’attention des chercheurs depuis les années 1920. L’augmentation de cet écart a souvent été attribuée au rôle croissant des médias et des pairs dans la vie des adolescents.Objectifs : Les changements dans le rôle joué par les parents, les médias et les pairs dans la vie des adolescents sont examinés à la lumière de leur gestion du temps. Les données sur l’emploi du temps documentent le rôle déclinant des parents, mais montrent également que des stratégies constructives de la gestion du temps peuvent aider les parents à conserver et à renforcer leur rôle dans le développement intellectuel et affectif de leurs adolescents.Méthodologie : Les données proviennent de l’Enquête sociale générale menée par Statistique Canada (ESG) (1986 à 2005) et de l’Enquête ontarienne sur l’emploi du temps et le bien-être des adolescents de 2003 (OATUS). Les relations entre l’utilisation du temps des adolescents et le bien-être émotionnel sont contrôlées pour l’âge, le sexe et les antécédents familiaux.Résultats : Malgré l’élargissement de l’écart de communication et d’attitude entre les adolescents et les parents au cours des dernières décennies, la situation n’est pas irrémédiable. Les analyses des données d’OATUS suggèrent que les stratégies indirectes, soulignant l’importance des routines et des relations familiales, ont des impacts plus importants sur les performances scolaires et la qualité de vie des adolescents que les règles domestiques, les interventions verbales ou les contrôles comportementaux sporadiques.Conclusions : La conservation de l’influence parentale sur les adolescents s’effectue peut-être davantage par « osmose » des valeurs et des habitudes. En effet, le partage des valeurs familiales, des activités communes et la capacité parentale à servir de modèle joue un rôle important dans l’influence des structures de motivation des adolescents.Contribution : Les résultats de cette recherche appuient le fait que les performances scolaires et le bien-être émotionnel des adolescents sont fondés sur leurs routines comportementales et l’efficacité des interventions des parents.Research framework : The widening generation gap between parents and teens has occupied researchers’ attention since the 1920s. The expansion of this gap has been often attributed to the growing roles of mass media and peers in teens’ lives. Objectives : Changes in the role played by parents, mass media and peers in the lives of teens are examined through the lens of time use. Time use data document the declining role of parents, but also show that constructive time use strategies can help parents to retain and enforce their role in teens’ intellectual and emotional development. Methodology : Data are taken from the Canadian General Social Surveys (1986 to 2005) and the 2003 Ontario Experience Sampling Survey of Adolescents’ Time Use and Well-Being. Relationships between teens’ time use and emotional well-being are controlled for age, gender, and family background.Results : Although the communication and attitudinal gap between teens and parents widened during the past decades, the situation is not irremediable. Analyses of OATUS data suggest that indirect strategies, emphasising the importance of time use routines and habitual inter-family relationships, affect teens’ academic performance and quality of life more profoundly than household rules, verbal interventions, or sporadic behavioural controls. Conclusion : Perhaps the most powerful but underestimated leverage that parents have to protect their share of influence on teens is the social ‘osmosis’ of family values and practices. The seemingly imperceptible sharing of family values, joint activities, and parental ability to serve as a model play an important role in affecting teens’ motivational structures.Contribution : The proposition that teens’ academic performance and emotional well-being are grounded in their behavioural routines, and that the effectiveness of parents’ interventions depends to a large extent on their ability to redress these routines or habits is supported by research findings