Health, Social Disparities, and the Disability Gap in Time Use

• In Event: 231 - Section on Sociology of Population Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 03. Issues in Population Health, Disability, and Care

Abstract

Individuals with disabilities experience constraints to human, social, and health capital that affect their daily lives and use of time. However, little is known about the “disability gap” in time use in the United States, or the mechanisms contributing to that gap. This study uses the American Time Use Survey to estimate time spent in market work, nonmarket work, tertiary activities, and leisure among 35,924 working-aged men and women with and without a sensory, cognitive, physical, or personal care disability. Oaxaca-Blinder methodology is used to understand how health and sociodemographic characteristics contribute to the disability gap in time use. If people with disabilities had the same characteristics as people without disabilities, they would spend approximately 1 more hour in market work, 15 fewer minutes in tertiary activities, and 1 fewer hour in leisure. Both health and social disparities are important for explaining how disability shapes time use differentials.

Author

• Carrie L. Shandra, State University of New York at Stony Brook