Exploring longitudinal time use patterns among LGBQ adolescents in Australia

Time use is an important determinant of adolescent wellbeing. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) adolescents show differences in time use compared with their heterosexual peers. This study provides the first longitudinal examination of how differences in time use between LGBQ and heterosexual adolescents vary over time. Data were drawn from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), involving 6243 adolescents aged 10–15 years. Time use diaries recorded the duration of activities (active leisure, screen-based leisure, non-active leisure, time at school, sleep) and companions (mother, father, siblings, peers, alone). Linear regressions estimated age- and sex-adjusted differences in time use over time. Compared to heterosexual peers, LGBQ adolescents spent more time alone (31 min/d) and in non-active (14 min/d) and screen-based leisure (11 min/d), and less time with peers (26 min/d) and in active leisure (10 min/d). These disparities were evident from age 10 and remained stable across adolescence. Time use by sex interactions showed that LGBQ males spent 10 min less in structured active leisure, whereas LGBQ females spent 25 min less with mothers than heterosexual adolescents. Findings underscore the importance of inclusive environments and early targeted initiatives to promote active and social participation among LGBQ youth.