I’m searching for any studies showing how the quantity/quality of American freetime/leisure time has changed over time. Any help?
This one is interesting. It measures the amount of time in the average work week.
For something more recent, you can track the total average annual hours per US worker (and their foreign counterparts) here. It shows a slight decline over the last decade or so.
Define free time. It used to be women stayed home and men worked, but with the economic changes both genders work. This means that both parents have to engage in house cleaning on top of work schedules, which is arguably going to result in a lot less free time.
However labor saving devices could cut that down. But I think the bulk of them came about over 50 years ago. Things like washing machines, dryers, vacuums, etc.
http://www.prsa.org/SearchResults/view/7722/105/Americans_today_have_less_free_time_study_says
In 2008, the median number of hours spent on leisure time dropped 20 percent — from 20 hours in 2007 to an all-time low of 16 hours this year. In 1973, when the poll started, the median weekly leisure time was 26 hours per week. This year, more people are watching TV, exercising and spending time with their children and families. And since 1995, the largest changes in how people are using their leisure time are exercising, computer activities, spending time with family and kids and swimming.