Household structure and time use among Indian adults: estimates from first Time Use Survey

Motilal Mahamallik, Institute Of Development Studies Jaipur (IDSJ)

The interplay of declining average family size, evolving gender roles, increased access to education, and the pervasive influence of technology collectively shapes the intricate tapestry of how Indian individuals (aged >15 years) from different types of family structures use their time in a day. In this exploration, we delve into the multifaceted aspects of this transition, examining its implications on individual time use patterns and the broader socio-cultural landscape. India’s first nationally representative time diary data from Time-Use Survey (TUS), conducted by the National Sample Survey Organization, has been used for the analysis. The logit and linear regression models have been used to examine the correlates of individuals' time allocation for different activities. The study finds that individuals with the 'single-person household' and 'Adult couple with both sexes of children' predominantly spent more time on paid work activities than the other family structure groups, such as Only female older persons, Older couple families. Furthermore, this study also found that there were not significant differential in the individuals’ time by the gender status of children present in the family (Adult couple with male children and Adult couple with female children).

Keywords: Families, Unions and Households, Human Capital, Education, and Work, Gender Dynamics

See paper.