Well-Being Among Married Couples: The Role of Time Allocation

This paper outlines a methodological approach to examining individual wellbeing within married couples that incorporates each partner’s allocation of time. Drawing on data from the Sample Survey of Daily Time Use by the Population (orig. Выборочное наблюдение использования суточного фонда времени населением 2024), we construct multiple‑indicator, multiple‑cause (MIMIC) models using ALR‑transformed time‑use regressors to identify the association between wellbeing and the relative redistribution of time. Wellbeing, treated as a latent construct, is operationalised through indicators of human capital (health status and educational attainment) and material resources (income). The results demonstrate a robust and statistically significant relationship between wellbeing and the time‑allocation decisions made by individuals and their partners. The analysis also reveals gendered patterns in this relationship, alongside differences between weekends and working days. The proposed integrated approach enables the estimation of partners’ wellbeing – despite its inherently non-observable nature – while explicitly accounting for each partner’s time allocation.