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The Association Between Travel and Satisfaction with Travel and Life: Evidence from the Twin Cities

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Mobility, Sociability and Well-being of Urban Living

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Abstract

Satisfaction with life (SWL) is a global judgment of life, which includes family, work, social life among others. Although previous studies have explored the impact of the major life domains on SWL, few have focused on travel. Travel presumably affects satisfaction with travel (SWT), which in turn contributes to SWL. Using data from residents in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area (Twin Cities), we employ structural equations models to explore the relationships between travel and SWT/SWL. As expected, SWT has a positive association with SWL. Vehicle miles driven is positively associated with SWL but negatively associated with SWT, and therefore, its total effect on life satisfaction is insignificant. Most measures of travel have negative associations with SWL through SWT, consistent with the theory of disutility of travel. However, the detrimental effect is not large. Because having a driver’s license is positively associated with SWL, planning strategies should be developed to meet the daily needs of those without a license and to improve their life satisfaction in an automobile-oriented society.

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Acknowledgements

Data collection was funded by Transitway Impact Research Program in the Twin Cities. Jessica Schoner helped survey design and administration.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 301 19th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA

    Jason Cao

  2. Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China

    Donggen Wang

Authors
  1. Jason Cao
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  2. Donggen Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jason Cao .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

    Donggen Wang

  2. Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong Department of Urban Planning and Design, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong

    Shenjing He

Appendix

Appendix

Measurement models

Observed Indicators

Constant

Travel satisfaction

Constant

Life satisfaction

Model for all respondents

I do not want to change anything regarding my daily travel

1.841

0.814

  

When I think of my daily travel, the positive aspects outweigh the negative

3.243

0.698

  

My travel facilitates my daily life

2.875

0.438

  

My daily travel makes me feel good

2.340

0.814

  

I am completely satisfied with my daily travel

2.052

0.926

  

If I could live my life over again, I would change almost nothing

  

2.881

0.617

The conditions of my life are excellent

  

4.182

0.834

So far I have achieved the important things I want in life

  

3.814

0.801

I am satisfied with my life

  

4.651

0.849

In most ways my life is close to my ideal

  

3.782

0.845

Model for commuters

I do not want to change anything regarding my daily travel

2.117

0.821

  

When I think of my daily travel, the positive aspects outweigh the negative

3.489

0.697

  

My travel facilitates my daily life

3.126

0.397

  

My daily travel makes me feel good

2.679

0.807

  

I am completely satisfied with my daily travel

2.411

0.929

  

If I could live my life over again, I would change almost nothing

  

3.145

0.600

The conditions of my life are excellent

  

4.651

0.825

So far I have achieved the important things I want in life

  

4.223

0.774

I am satisfied with my life

  

5.111

0.838

In most ways my life is close to my ideal

  

4.204

0.827

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Cao, J., Wang, D. (2016). The Association Between Travel and Satisfaction with Travel and Life: Evidence from the Twin Cities. In: Wang, D., He, S. (eds) Mobility, Sociability and Well-being of Urban Living. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-48184-4_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-48184-4_8

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-48184-4

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