Time diary design for measuring the risks associated with lifestyles Dr. Kimberly Fisher Institute for Social and Economic Research

Monitoring the division of domestic labour Time children and parents spend together Measuring & valuing unpaid economic activity Measuring consumption of goods Time spent using ICTs Time spent travelling and means of travel Changes in social & leisure activities Measuring work-life balance and the impact of paid work patterns on lifestyle Common uses of diary data

Risk and lifestyle issues of increasing importance in public policy research Time diary data can contribute to risk analysis

Outline of the future research potential of diaries to measure lifestyle risk Monitoring exposure Measuring physical activity Monitoring social interaction of groups at risk of social exclusion –how to use time diaries –current research –limitations of diaries –future possibilities

Monitoring exposure - diary potential Ancillary or qualifying column information –Location (indoors, outside) –Additional qualifiers (near someone smoking) Activities reported by other household members (smoking, painting room) Matching in weather and pollution data from diary date and location of the diarist

Monitoring exposure - current research Klepeis and Robinson – National Human Activity Pattern Survey (USA, data collection ) –Time spent outdoors, in vehicle, in bars/ restaurants, in office/factory, in residence, in other indoor locations –Time spent around smokers –Questionnaire about home environment

Monitoring exposure - current research Zaleski and Tenhola (2003) – review of potential for diary data to collect inhalation and sunlight exposure data Diffey and Gies (1998) used diaries and sun patches to monitor melanoma risk Huysmans (2001) matched weather data into Dutch time use data from to see impact of weather on behaviour

Monitoring exposure - limitations of diaries Diaries miss some protective measures mediating exposure from activities (wearing appropriate clothing or sun screen, resting under mosquito nets) Individual variation in reports of intensity of exposure

Monitoring exposure - future possibilities Potential to measure community response to crime or neighbourhood facilities by comparing time on streets or time in homes Element in energy efficiency standards Tool to measure behaviour change in relation to risk exposure over time

Measuring physical activity - diary potential Recorded activities –More easily estimated active time (usually involves routine elements - play sports, travel on foot / by bicycle, walk dogs) –Less easily estimated active time (elements of paid and unpaid work, time on feet) Combine with clinical measures taken during the diary day

Measuring physical activity - current research Fisher (2002) used UK data to measure physical activity patterns Paul Stonebrook (Department of Health) – preparing report using UK data to measure energy expenditure Pentland and McColl (1999) study of men with spinal cord injuries in Canada

Measuring physical activity - limitations of diaries Understanding and reporting of intensity of activities varies by individual Diaries tend not to capture short duration activities (complimentary measures have limitations – not work in swimming pools) Black boxes around some activities like paid work and formal education

Measuring physical activity - future possibilities Redesign diaries to better capture physical activity levels of all activities Validation studies of diaries combined with other measures of physical activity Monitor changes in overall activity levels over time

Monitoring social interaction - diary potential Ancillary column information –Who else present –Location – people come to see diarist, diarist goes to see other people, combination Recorded activities –Face-to-face –Slow mediated (written letters) –Rapid mediated ( , phone, texting)

Monitoring social interaction - diary potential Recorded activities and ancillary information –Types of activities with different groups of people and types of activities alone –Time spent with different groups of people and time spent alone –Frequency of transitions between different groups of people

Monitoring social interaction - current research Growing Up in Australia (baseline in field) For infants and 4-year-olds, social time and exposure to media (opportunities to learn both language and social skills) Can be combined with clinical measures of stress (like cortisol)

Monitoring social interaction - current research Hofferth and Sandberg (2001) used time diary in the PSID to examine childrens social time, later work examines fathers time with children

Monitoring social interaction - limitations of diaries Identifying social interaction is easily, but it is difficult to measure the enjoyment, satisfaction, or value of that interaction –More time with those we like may be preferable to more time with those we loathe –But we do have arguments with those we love and may enjoy revenge on those we despise

Monitoring social interaction - future possibilities Apply social interaction research to vulnerable adult populations More links of diary data to longitudinal information

Conclusions Time diary studies have the potential to significantly contribute to the study of risks associated with lifestyles Much of this potential has yet to be examined