This study used several large-scale databases to examine the time-use patterns of American adolescents in the late 1980s and early 1990s, compare them with those exhibited by teens 10 to 20 years ago, and test whether participation in extracurricular activities reduces the chances that young people will engage in risky behaviors. Included are discussions of why adolescent time use is important, whether time spent on homework and paid work prepares teens for higher education and adult employment, and why adolescent time use may vary with family characteristics.
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