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.
Journal
World Leisure Journal
Volume 56, 2014 - Issue 2
Promoting Health and Well-Being through Leisure
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research article
Highway to health? Commute time and well-being among Canadian adults
Margo Hilbrecht Canadian Index of Wellbeing, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, CanadaCorrespondenceciwmargo@uwaterloo.ca, Bryan Smale Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Canadian Index of Wellbeing, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada & Steven E. Mock Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
Pages 151-163
Received 01 Nov 2013
Accepted 17 Jan 2014
Published online: 08 Apr 2014
Special Issue Papers
Highway to health? Commute time and well-being among Canadian adults
Margo Hilbrecht Canadian Index of Wellbeing, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, CanadaCorrespondenceciwmargo@uwaterloo.ca, Bryan Smale Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Canadian Index of Wellbeing, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada & Steven E. Mock Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada