Stress of commuting leads to burnout, according to new research

New research from Canada suggest that there is a “significant link” between stress brought on by commuting and suffering from burnout, with car users, and particularly passengers, likely to suffer most from stress.

Different patterns were observed among those who commute by bike, depending on whether their journey to and from work took them through urban, suburban or rural areas.

Those commuting by bike primarily in the suburbs suffered higher levels of stress than those riding elsewhere, according to Annie Barreck of the University of Montreal’s School of Industrial Relations.

http://www.nouvelles.umontreal.ca/udem-news/news/20150526-youre-driving-...

Barreck presented her research yesterday at the annual congress of the Association Francophone pour le Savoir (ACFAS).

She said: “A correlation exists between commuting stress factors and the likelihood of suffering from burnout. But their importance varies according to the individual, the conditions in which their trips take place, and the place where the individual works.”

Her study assessed the commuting habits of 1,942 people aged 17-69 working for 63 different organisations in Quebec (meaning the findings may not reflect the situation elsewhere).

“People commuting towards rural areas, or even suburban areas, feel less stressed out,” she went on, adding that vehicle passengers experienced higher levels of stress than the person driving.

“Car-pooling reduces the passenger commuters' sense of control, which causes them more stress before they've even arrived at work,” she explained.

She said that people whose commute comprised a long trip on public transport through rural areas said they were less effective at work.

“Public transit implies bus or train connections, and as rural regions are less well served, the risk of unforeseeable and uncontrollable delays is increased, causing stress that is carried over into the workplace,” said Barreck.

By contrast, people using public transport in major cities were less likely to display symptoms of burnout, since they have a variety of options available to them.

She said that stress levels of cycle commuters were dependent on the type of area they rode through while commuting, adding that these were particularly high in suburban areas.

“Cyclists in the suburbs have a lesser sense of control than cyclists in the city,” she maintained.

“Cyclists and walkers in the city have access to safety features such as cycle paths and pedestrian crossings, which increases their sense of control over their commute.

“Meanwhile, as businesses have been leaving city centres over the past 20 years, car traffic continues to increase in the suburbs. In the country, cyclists and walkers use quiet country roads, which are comparatively less stressful and offer a greater sense of control.”

Looking across all modes of transport, she said that “the effects of the duration of a commute on a person's mental health vary according to the type of transport used and the profile of the area where the person works.”

According to Barreck, commutes of more than 20 minutes – the average journey to work in Quebec is 32 minutes – makes the risk of burnout more likely, while those with a commute of 35 minutes or more display cynicism towards their jobs, leading her to urge employers to provide flexible options.

“Managing employee commuting flexibly would increase employee efficiency and moreover enable organisations to attract or retain workers,” she said.

“In the current context of skill shortages, employers have everything to gain from facilitating the mental health of their employees.”

Last September, we reported how a 10-year study conducted by the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School and the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York concluded that people who walk or cycle to work are less stressed and more productive.

Researchers quizzed 18,000 UK commuters, with 73 per cent of them going to work by car, 13 per cent on foot, 11 per cent on public transport and 3 per cent by bike.

The study found that as well as those on bike or on foot, people who commuted by public transport were happier than those who used a car to get to work.

It also said that people who switched from a car or public transport to use more active modes of travel were happier after changing their mode of transport for their commute.

As we mentioned above, Barreck’s study was specific to Quebec, so her findings may not be directly applicable elsewhere.

But let us know in the comments below what your experience is of commuting in urban, suburban and rural areas, and how stressed you feel; also, if you switch between different modes for your commute, what impact does that have?