On complexity and variability of individuals’ discretionary activities

Using a hierarchical structured equation model and a multi-dimensional 3-week household time-use and activity diary conducted in Bandung Metropolitan Area, Indonesia, this study investigated the interaction among individuals’ non-instrumental variables, time space (such as their day-to-day time duration of activity participation, socio-demographics and built environment), and health factors on individuals’ day-to-day discretionary activities. The results show that individuals’ subjective characteristics and day-to-day time–space components significantly influence decision making processes to participate in certain activities, particularly grocery shopping. Integration between subjective factors and day-to-day time duration of activity participation also reveals how an individual categorises a particular behaviour as routine, planned or impulsive. For example, grocery shopping is a planned behaviour with real consequences (e.g. starving). Appearing as a strong commitment and intention enables individuals to allocate time to engage in this activity. Thus, given the individual’s time–space constraints, there may be a regular trade-off between frequency and duration. On the other hand, out-of-home social-recreational activity is a less urgent/impulsive activity and depends far more on an individual’s day-to-day time–space constraints than his/her subjective characteristics. If the situation on the given day is not feasible for him/her to undertake the out-of-home social recreational activity, he/she is more likely to re-schedule the activity. The study results also show that land use configuration and perceived accessibilities influence individuals’ discretionary activity participation.