Literature review on the links between commuting and subjective well-being

Abstract

Commuting plays an important role in the daily lives of working individuals and affectsmultiple dimensions of subjective well-being. This article explores the relationship betweenkey commuting characteristics such as duration, mode, and distance and the cognitive,affective, and eudaimonic components of well-being. The existing literature on therelationship between commuting and subjective well-being indicates that long commutes aregenerally associated with lower life satisfaction due to stress, fatigue, and reduced free time.The mode of transport also influences the commuting experience. Many studies have foundthat active modes (walking, cycling) are often perceived positively due to their healthbenefits, while public transport is frequently associated with lower satisfaction levels due todelays and congestion. Satisfaction with public transportation mainly depends on frequency,comfort, and service regularity. Finally, improving transport infrastructure and services couldmitigate the negative effects of commuting and promote higher subjective well-being.