Examining the relation between children’s satisfaction with their time-use and subjective well-being

Abstract

This study investigated the relation between children’s satisfaction with their time use and their subjective well-being (SWB) using data from a nationally representative sample of South African children aged 10 to 12 years. Drawing on UNICEF’s multilevel systems framework, the study examined how satisfaction with various aspects of time use, such as free time, choice, and enjoyment, relates to their SWB. Structural equation modelling revealed that children’s satisfaction with their time use accounted for over half of the variance in children’s SWB, with findings consistent across age and gender. The results highlight time use as a significant psychological and developmental domain in children’s lives, shaped by social, economic, and policy environments. The study contributes to international literature by offering evidence from a low- to middle-income context and calls for equity-driven, child-centred time-use interventions. These findings have implications for child well-being policy, program design, and future research across developmental, social, and rights-based domains.