Assessing Mediators in the Relationship between Commute Time and Subjective Well-Being

This study aimed to identify and assess empirically the various pathways through which commute time may influence subjective well-being. On the basis of a literature review, possible pathways and their underlying mechanisms were identified. A structural equation model was specified to assess the relative strengths of these pathways. Commuting mode (car and bicycle) was taken into account as a moderating variable. Data used to estimate the models were drawn from the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences Panel, a representative sample of Dutch individuals. The results of the analysis indicated that, insofar as commute time had an effect on subjective well-being (only for bicycle commuters could a significant effect be established), this effect was likely mediated by a person's satisfaction with his or her social contacts. No effects between commute time and perceived health, body mass index (BMI), and job satisfaction were found, even though such effects have been reported in previous studies. In addition, commuting mode (car or bicycle) itself had no effect on any of the endogenous variables (except for BMI). In contrast to the findings of previous research, the results indicated that, at least for the Dutch population, commuting patterns (mode and commute time) mattered little in how people subjectively evaluated various aspects of their lives. From a practical point of view, the results of the analysis do not warrant policy intervention. In addition, insofar as policy intervention is desirable, extreme commute behavior should be addressed as a social problem and not a health problem.