Happiness and Satisfaction with Work Commute

Lars Olsson (), Tommy Gärling (), Dick Ettema (), Margareta Friman () and Satoshi Fujii ()

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2013, vol. 111, issue 1, 255-263

Abstract: Research suggests that for many people happiness is being able to make the routines of everyday life work, such that positive feelings dominate over negative feelings resulting from daily hassles. In line with this, a survey of work commuters in the three largest urban areas of Sweden show that satisfaction with the work commute contributes to overall happiness. It is also found that feelings during the commutes are predominantly positive or neutral. Possible explanatory factors include desirable physical exercise from walking and biking, as well as that short commutes provide a buffer between the work and private spheres. For longer work commutes, social and entertainment activities either increase positive affects or counteract stress and boredom. Satisfaction with being employed in a recession may also spill over to positive experiences of work commutes. Copyright The Author(s) 2013

Keywords: Life satisfaction; Emotional well-being; Work commute (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (111)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-012-0003-2

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