Automobile commuting duration and the quantity of time spent with spouse, children, and friends

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.06.015

Preventive Medicine

Volume 55, Issue 3, September 2012, Pages 215-218

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.06.015 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

To explore the extent to which commuters reallocate time away from their spouse, children, and friends.

Methods

An analytic sample of adult, full-time employed, urban-dwelling respondents is drawn from the nationally representative American Time Use Survey (2003–2010). Seemingly Unrelated Regressions are utilized to calculate adjusted mean number of daily minutes spent with spouse, own children, and friends at several commuting durations.

Results

Mean {median} daily commuting time was 54.5 {50} minutes (the range was 6–210 min). For those commuting 60 min daily, a one hour commuting time increase is associated with a 21.8 minute decrease in time males spent with their spouse, an 18.6 minute decrease in time with children, and a 7.2 minute decrease in time with friends. A one hour increase in commuting time is associated with an 11.9 minute decrease in time females spent with friends, only, with no significant impact on time females spent with either spouse or children.

Conclusion

This was the first study to utilize time diary data to explore the relationship between commuting length and time spent with others. These estimates will inform researchers interested in time usages' impacts on physical and mental health.

Highlights

► Time use data was used to quantify trade-offs between commutes and time with others. ► Long commutes were associated with males spending less time with spouse and children. ► Commuting time was associated with males and females spending less time with friends.

Section snippets

Background

Time is a limited resource, with competing demands. Insufficient time is cited as an obstacle to physical activity (Wolin et al., 2008) and a nutritious diet (Devine et al., 2003, Jekanowski et al., 2001). Lengthy commutes are one source of time constraints already associated with physical inactivity (Lopez-Zetina et al., 2006). Another potential burden of long commutes is less available time to spend with family and friends. A long commute leaves less time available to both develop social

Methods

Data are from the American Time Use Survey (2003–2010). The ATUS is a nationally representative cross-sectional survey administered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Respondents chronologically list their activities and those activities' duration, including who else was present during each activity, over the course of a twenty-four hour period referred to as the respondents' diary date. An analytic sample was derived from respondents residing in urban counties, employed full time, ages 18–65,

Results

Descriptive statistics are presented by gender in Table 1. The total sample is 27,702 individuals (14,297 males and 13,405 females). Males {females} reported on average 194.2 {157.4} observable minutes with spouse, 113.9 {111.7} minutes with own children, and 54.5 {51.2} minutes with friends. Conditional on having commuted, the average total daily commuting time was 54.5 min (the range was 6–210 min). The 25th percentile commuting duration was 30 min, the 50th percentile was 50 min, the 75th

Discussion

Longer daily commuting time is associated with males spending decreased time with their spouse and children and both males and females spending decreased time with friends. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that lengthy commutes inhibit interpersonal interactions. Previous studies suggest that such patterns can adversely impact a commuter's health, their marital relationship, and their children's development.

The analysis reveals gender differences in time trade-offs with

Conflict of interest statement

The author wishes to state that no conflict of interest is present.

Acknowledgments

This research was begun during the author's doctoral studies at Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies under the guidance of Inas Rashad Kelly, and revised during a postdoctoral fellowship at Brown University's Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research. The manuscript was greatly improved by the comments of three anonymous reviewers. All American Time Use Survey data and documentation are freely disseminated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics via //www.bls.gov/tus/

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Brief Original ReportAutomobile commuting duration and the quantity of time spent with spouse, children, and friends

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Highlights

Section snippets

Background

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conflict of interest statement

Acknowledgments

J. Health Econ.

Am. J. Prev. Med.

Soc. Sci. Med.

Am. J. Prev. Med.

Health Place

Parental employment, shared-parent–child activities and childhood obesity

J. Fam. Econ. Iss.

Maternal employment and childhood obesity: a search for mechanisms in time use data

Social ties and susceptibility to the common cold

J. Am. Med. Assoc.

The connection between maternal employment and childhood obesity: inspecting the mechanisms

Rev. Econ. House

Off to work: commuting in Australia

Brief Original Report
Automobile commuting duration and the quantity of time spent with spouse, children, and friends