Time-Use, Occupational Balance, and Temporal Life Satisfaction of University Students in Turkey During Isolation Period of COVID-19

Abstract

People all over the world have needed to adapt to social distancing, movement restrictions, and change in life routines due to Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). This study aimed to explore the relationships between time-use, occupational balance, and temporal life satisfaction of university students in Turkey during the social isolation period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted online in May 2020, with 128 university students of a Turkish university with the mean age of 20.27 +/- 1.49 years (Min. 18 - Max. 26 years old) from 37 cities. The measures used were the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ), the Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale (TSWLS), and a customized question about the time-use of the students in specific occupational domains. The results indicated that individuals with lower occupational balance had less present life satisfaction (p < .001). While the time allocated to study lessons, socialization, and exercise had small positive correlations with OBQ (p <.01), watching TV had a negative correlation with OBQ (p <.05) and with 'present TSWLS' (p <.01). The mean value of 'present TSWLS' (15.45 +/- 7.54) was lower than 'past TSWLS' (21.57 +/- 6.27) and 'future TSWLS' (22.64 +/- 4.60). Evaluation of occupational balance and the time use patterns of university students during the isolation periods could be important due to its relationship with life satisfaction. This issue raises the potential need for preventive occupation-based interventions to address the mental health of the community.