Patterns and correlates of time use and energy expenditure in older Australian workers: A descriptive study

•Older workers show gender stereotypes.•Healthier older workers spend less time watching television and more time on chores.•Older workers have very low rates of participation in sport and exercise.•These areas could be targets for interventions encouraging healthy lifestyles.

BackgroundHow people use their time has health implications, but use of time may be influenced by factors such as age, sex, education and health.ObjectiveThis study aimed to provide detailed information on the daily activity patterns of older working people.Study design139 older Australian adults (aged 50–79 years) undertook comprehensive interviews on their use of time. This paper presents a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline findings from a longitudinal study.Main outcome measuresUse of time was measured using the Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adults (MARCA), administered via computer-assisted phone interview. Activity patterns were described, and compared on the basis of sex, education and health status.ResultsThe main activities undertaken were sleep (mean 466 min/day), work (mean 233 min/day) and chores (mean 160 min/day), with little time spent on physical activity (mean 13 min/day). Women spent more time doing chores (p < 0.001) while men spent more time on vigorous activities (p < 0.001). Participants with “fair” health spent less time on inside chores (p = 0.05) and grooming (p = 0.02) than healthier participants.ConclusionsHealthy lifestyle interventions for older workers should aim to increase physical activity levels by targeting specific activities, depending on sex and health status.