Canadian study finds seniors most satisfied with time use, while people with disabilities report lower well-being

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published March 19, 2026

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A new study released today by Statistics Canada found that satisfaction with time use in Canada varies notably by age and disability status. Adults aged 65 and older were the most satisfied group, while people with disabilities reported lower levels of satisfaction than those without disabilities.

According to the study, 78.1% of seniors reported high satisfaction with how they use their time, the highest rate among all age groups. The findings also showed that satisfaction generally rises with age, especially from middle age onward.

By contrast, people with disabilities were less likely to report high satisfaction with time use, at 52.5%, compared with 69.8% among those without disabilities. Statistics Canada also said that the likelihood of reporting high satisfaction declined as disability severity increased.

The study uses a 0-to-10 scale to measure satisfaction with time use, with scores from 7 to 10 classified as high satisfaction. Nationally, 62.3% of Canadians reported high satisfaction.

The data also showed geographic differences. People living in rural areas were more likely to report high satisfaction with time use than those in urban areas, while Quebec recorded the highest rate among the regions covered in the study.

Statistics Canada said the higher satisfaction levels among older adults may be partly linked to retirement and lower time pressure compared with working-age adults. However, the agency noted that satisfaction starts to rise even before age 65, suggesting that daily routines and lifestyle patterns may play an important role in overall well-being.