Time-use behaviour in the United Kingdom: a comparative analysis of pre-COVID19 and during COVID19

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic triggered profound shifts in daily activity patterns and time allocation, providing a unique opportunity to study behavioural adaptations during unprecedented disruptions. This paper examines changes in time-use behaviour in the United Kingdom by comparing pre-pandemic and pandemic periods using data from the UK Time Use Survey (UKTUS) for 2014–2015 and 2020–2021. A Multiple Discrete-Continuous Extreme Value (MDCEV) model is employed to analyse how individuals allocate time across different activities and locations. The findings highlight significant increases in participation and duration of in-home activities, particularly work, shopping, and leisure, while out-of-home activities, such as work, study, and travel, experienced notable declines. The marginal utility analysis reveals that in-home work and shopping surpassed their out-of-home counterparts, reflecting adaptations to pandemic restrictions. Moreover, generational differences in time-use patterns diminished, indicating more uniform behavioural adjustments across age groups. The study identifies challenges faced by larger households in accommodating remote work and study, exacerbated by space constraints and competing demands. Persistent gender disparities are also observed, with women disproportionately engaged in home care and personal care activities, constraining their participation in remote work. On average, women spent 66–71 more minutes per day on home care and 7–13 more minutes per day on personal care than men across both periods.