General Social Survey – 2010
Overview of the Time Use of Canadians

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Introduction

This publication provides a snapshot of initial results of the General Social Survey 2010 on time stress and well-being.

The General Social Survey (GSS) collects data on social trends in order to monitor changes in Canadian society over time and provide information on specific social issues of current or emerging interest.

The core content of the 2010 GSS was time use. This was the fifth time GSS focused on time use.

Time use estimates in this publication are based on information reported in the time use diary portion of the survey. This diary provides a detailed record of participation in a wide variety of daily activities, as well as the time devoted to them, where these activities took place, and the social relationships of the respondent. Also, for the first time, the 2010 GSS collected information on simultaneous activities, i.e. those that are performed at the same time as a primary activity. The questionnaire collected additional information on perceptions of time, time devoted to unpaid work, well-being, paid work and education, cultural and sports activities, transportation, and numerous socio-economic characteristics.

In addition to providing a portrait of the time use of Canadians, this publication compares recent data with information obtained from a similar survey conducted in 1998. It presents the number of hours dedicated to paid work, unpaid work, education activities, personal care, and periods of free time and leisure. As well, some key facts are shown on the time spent on both primary and simultaneous childcare activities and respondents' perceptions of time.

For more information about the survey methodology or data quality, please consult the section at the end of this publication.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this publication, please contact:

Dissemination and Client Services
Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division
Statistics Canada, Jean Talon Building, 7th Floor, Section C1
170 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0T6
E-mail: sasd-dssea@statcan.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-951-5979
Fax: 613-951-4378

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