Healthy on the way (HOTway): Perceived stress of different modes of commuting

Abstract

Introduction: A large portion of the employed population have high levels
of psychological distress combined with low physical activity levels.
However, to improve and maintain one’s health, recovering activities
such as leisure time physical activity or active transport are important.
Current evidence suggests that using active modes of transport for
commuting can play an important role in reducing chronic stress levels.
However, whether mode of transport also affects acute stress has not been
investigated so far. In the HOTway pilot study, we investigated whether
different modes of commuting (i.e. active [walking, cycling], passive) are
associated with different perceived stress levels.
Methods: Of 227 participants invited, 201 (Mage = 27.8 ± 9.9, 98 female)
reported on commute-specific characteristics (e.g. duration, length, route,
construction zones, traffic density), and completed a perceived stress
questionnaire on three working days, respectively in the morning
(i.e. before commuting) and immediately after arriving at work.
Results: Compared to passive commuters, active commuters showed a
significant reduction in perceived stress (d = −0.52, 95% CI [-0.81,-0.24],
p < 0.01) from before to after travelling to work. This effect was influenced
by duration of commuting, revealing increasing differences between the
two groups with longer durations. In particular, longer durations were
associated with increased perceived stress of passive commuters.
Conclusion: Active commuting may be beneficial for acute and chronic
stress levels as well as maintaining and improving health. Further studies
with objective measures of physical activity and stress are needed to
strengthen the observed relationship.