Piloting the time diary method among Honduran immigrants: gendered time use.

By studying time allocation, a factor implicitly linked to health by structuring individuals' physical exercise, leisure, sleep, and access to care, we can better understand behavioral mechanisms to improve health in minority populations. We piloted the time diary method in a Honduran immigrant community to assess time spent in personal and interpersonal responsibilities, and we examined how these patterns varied by gender. In the context of participatory ethnography, 34 urban Honduran immigrants were recruited and followed over 7 days. Respondents reported activities by 30-min periods for seven 24-h days. Observed respondent-level reliability exceeded 0.7 for time spent in commuting, care work, family responsibility, and individual leisure, showing better results than 3- or 10-day tracking schemes. Gender differences in time allocation patterns were also observed. We argue that understanding time use patterns will elucidate gendered disparities in health outcomes associated with physical mobility, and in access to health care.