On the Relationships between Commuting Mode Choice and Public Health

This paper studies the associations that may exist between commuting mode choice and public health. For this purpose, the authors used Community Health Survey data collected in New York City in 2010. Obesity, blood pressure, and diabetes are used as indicators of respondents’ physical health, and Non-Specific Psychological Distress as an indicator of respondents’ mental health. After rigorous statistical analyses, a binary probit model was fitted for each physical and mental health indicator to quantify the associations between different commuting modes and physical/mental health. Results show that walking, as expected, is associated with a lower probability of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and mental disorders (all statistically significant) when compared to using private transportation. Using subway is related to a lower probability of obesity and diabetes while using the city bus was linked with a higher probability of obesity (all statistically significant) compared to using personal vehicles. Finally, in comparison with using personal vehicles, working at home is associated with a higher probability of having mental disorders (statistically significant).

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2016.12.007
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140516302365
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/22141405
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Tajalli, Mehrdad
  • Hajbabaie, Ali
• Publication Date: 2017-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 267-277
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transport & Health
  • Volume: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 2214-1405
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/22141405

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commuting; Mental illness; Mode choice; Physical fitness; Public health; Public transit; Transportation modes
• Geographic Terms: New York (New York)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01638190
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 22 2017 3:40PM