Parent–Child Leisure and Parent Affect: The Role of Family Structure

Abstract

This study evaluates differences in parent–child leisure and parent affect across single- and two-parent families. The Ecology of Family Experiences framework suggests contextual factors such as family structure and the novelty of the activity environment contribute to heterogeneity in how parents experience leisure, partly because constraints may differ across family structures. Using a large, nationally representative data sample of parents from the American Time Use Survey (N = 78,353), this study shows single-parents experience leisure deficits compared to other parents, and leisure deficits are greatest in home-based leisure. Additionally, using a subsample (N = 16,214), we found that at-home leisure is more meaningful for single parents than other parents, suggesting avoidance behaviors do not drive differences. Instead, structural constraints like time and money likely curb leisure in single-parent homes. Findings have policy implications, because many leisure programs target away-from-home leisure which is less restorative to single parents.