Is Time Well Spent in Later Life? Understanding Life Satisfaction Through Daily Time Reallocation Across Activities

As individuals age, their daily lives change due to shifts in work, family roles,,and health. These transitions alter daily routines, requiring older adults to navigate trade- offs in time allocation, where dedicating time to one activity reduces time for another. These choices, whether voluntary or constrained by factors such as health issues, a shrinking social network, or caregiving responsibilities, significantly shape Life Satisfaction (LS). This study examines how time-use patterns are associated to LS among older adults in Italy, using data from the ISTAT 2013 Multipurpose Time Use Survey. Unlike previous studies that analyze activities separately, this research considers time spent across 25 activities (e.g., sleep, personal care, employment, household tasks, volunteering, socialization). Using a no-intercept linear regression model, we investigate whether, and to what extent, reallocating time from one activity to another affects LS, identifying which shifts enhance or diminish well-being. Findings indicate that increasing time spent on volunteering and in- person socialization is significantly associated with LS increases, particularly when replacing passive activities or adult caregiving. These insights help older adults structure their daily routines to maximize well-being.