Time‐use for the iGeneration : A person‐centered approach

Abstract

This study used a person‐centered approach to identify classes of adolescents characterized by unique patterns of time‐use including traditional activities (paid work, homework, television, physical activity) and technological activities (gaming, social networking, Internet) and examined the relation to developmental outcomes (extracurricular activities, sleep, and academic attainment). A sample of 948 mainly Caucasian (56.6%) adolescents (43% male; M age = 15.4 years) from 28 high schools were surveyed. Time‐use classes were derived using latent class analysis. Four classes of adolescent time‐use were identified: Analoggers, Gamers, Digital All‐rounders, and Social Networkers. Classes differentially associated with developmental outcomes, controlling for gender and socioeconomic status. The Gamers (15.7%; active in one domain) were more likely to be males, with the lowest engagement in extracurricular activities and lowest academic attainment when compared to other groups. The Digital All‐rounders (24.9%; engagement in multiple domains) obtained the lowest amount of sleep, however, on average, participated in sport, and had an academic self‐concept of similar levels to Analoggers (40.3%; highly engaged in traditional activities, less engaged in the technological domain). Social Networkers (19.1%), on average, heavily invested in one technological activity at the expense of other activities, having the poorest outcomes alongside Gamers. Examination of typologies of adolescent time‐use can support understanding of technology‐related activity patterns and associations with extracurricular activities, sleep and academic attainment. The person‐centered approach enables us to disentangle contradictory findings related to adolescent technology use, particularly when comparing those who engage across a range of activities compared to those only engaged in one domain.

What Is Digital Parenting? A Systematic Review of Past Measurement and Blueprint for the Future

“…Note that although removing devices is a readily available strategy for restricting mobile technologies, doing so may effectively cut off adolescents’ social support network, which could produce negative consequences (e.g., Leung, 2006). By contrast, time-balancing approaches can arguably facilitate adolescents’ exposure to novel contexts and complementary opportunities for identity development and skill building (Modecki et al, 2018; Vernon, 2019). As a result, time-balancing techniques have the potential to both limit technology time and help meet adolescents’ developmental mandate for exploration and autonomy (Larson et al, 2002).…”

What is digital parenting? A systematic review of past measurement and blueprint for the future

“…It is worth noting that while removing devices is a readily available strategy for restricting mobile technologies, it is also the case that doing so may effectively cut off adolescents' social support network, which could have its own negative consequences (e.g., Leung, 2006). By contrast, time balancing approaches, also widely endorsed by parents, can arguably facilitate adolescents' exposure to novel contexts and complementary opportunities for identity development and skill building (Modecki et al, 2018;Vernon, 2019). As a result, such pro-active time balancing techniques work to both limit technology time and help meet adolescents' developmental mandate for exploration and autonomy (Larson et al, 2002).…”

Analysis of Time Use Surveys Using CO-STATIS: A Multiway Data Analysis of Gender Inequalities in Time Use in Colombia

“…These authors support the idea that in this age group, the patterns of time use are associated with a family's resources (i.e., level of education) and the age of the children. On the other hand, Vernon [16] and Kim et al [17] are among the authors that assess time use by adolescents and youth. These authors argue that in this life stage, it is important to consider the patterns of time use, including traditional activities (i.e., paid work, homework, television, physical activity, leisure activities, sleeping, etc.)…”