Self-Reported Impact of Road Traffic Congestion on Persons Commuting to and From Work

TL;DR

This study shows that road traffic congestion significantly increases stress, anxiety, and depression among commuters, while reducing leisure time and productivity.

Contribution

The study is the first to report on the psychosocial impact of road traffic congestion in the local context over a 10-year period.

Findings

83.3% of participants experienced moderate to severe stress due to traffic congestion.

Spending 30+ minutes in traffic was linked to reduced family time.

Over 15% of participants reported severe depression, and nearly all were dissatisfied with their commute.

Abstract

Background: Globally, road traffic congestion (RTC) represents a substantial public health problem contributing to negative psychological, social, and economic consequences, particularly among individuals experiencing RTC for prolonged periods of time. No studies have reported on the psychosocial impact of RTC locally within the 10-year period prior to the start of the study.

Aim: The aim of the study was to identify psychosocial/economic implications of RTC on selected adult travellers during peak traffic hours, with special emphasis on (1) stress, anxiety, and depression, (2) leisure and work-related experiences, and (3) loss of productivity.

Methods: Convenience sampling was used to select 385 study participants during a three-month period. The inclusion criteria were as follows: being at least 18 years of age, being a student or worker, commuting daily along a specified highway, and having experienced RTC during periods of peak traffic. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews at shopping centres. Variables measured included socio-demographics, self-reported depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-2), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-4), and selected social and economic indicators. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, V. 30.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), was used for both descriptive and inferential statistical data analysis.

Results: A total of 275 usable responses (response rate of 71.4%) were analyzed. The sample was predominantly female (n = 163; 59.3%) and aged 18-27 years (n = 91; 33.1%). Participants were mainly from Central Trinidad (n = 79; 28.7%) and employed in the public sector (n= 104; 37.8%). The prevalence of severe anxiety was 9.8% (n = 27), severe depression 15.6% (n = 43), and moderate to severe stress 83.3% (n = 229). Spending 30 minutes or more in traffic was associated with a decrease in family time (p = 0.005). Nearly all participants were dissatisfied.

Conclusion: Participants reported significant levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, loss of leisure and family time, and loss of productive hours and overall dissatisfaction. Urgent attention is needed to expand road networks, stagger working hours, work from home, and enhance travel benefits.

Figures