Highway to health? Commute time and well-being among Canadian adults

Abstract

This paper examines commute time, time spent in activities benefical to well-being, and the relationship to self-assessed well-being. Using cross-sectional data from the 2010 Canadian General Social Survey, Cycle 24, time use patterns and feelings of well-being are assessed for a subsample of 3409 men and women who regularly commute to work by car. Drawing upon a resource drain model, daily activities known to affect well-being were selected for analysis, and well-being was measured by life satisfaction and time pressure. Time spent commuting is associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and an increased sense of time pressure. Reduced time for physically active leisure and experiences of traffic congestion mediate the association of commute time with well-being, consistent with a resource drain model. Results suggest workplace practices aimed at increasing opportunities for physical activity and government-led efforts towards more integrated solutions to reduce traffic congestion may help increase well-being.

Keywords:

• car commuting
• commute time
• physical activity time
• resource drain model
• time use
• traffic congestion
• well-being