Summary
This report summarizes the main results of research promoted by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, concerning the impact of commuting on the health and safety of workers. An empirical study, carried out among 1167 industrial Italian workers, shows that “commuters” (workers whose journey from home to work usually does not take less than 45 min in each direction) experienced a more stressed lifestyle than did “non commuters” (whose journey does not take more than 20 min). Commuting appears for many workers to be a necessity which is imposed by external factors, such as the housing market and job opportunities. Commuting is shown to interfere with patterns of everyday life by restricting free-time and reducing sleeping time. A majority of commuters use public transport mainly because of cost. Public transport commuters have problems due to more changes between modes, idle waiting times and delays leading to late arrival at work. Inside transport modes, commuters suffered discomfort as a result of overcrowding, microclimatic conditions, noise and vibrations. Commuters also reported higher psychological stress scores, more health complaints, essentially of psychosomatic nature, and greater absenteeism from work due to sickness. Commuting, in addition to shiftwork, further increases sleep problems, psychosomatic complaints and difficulties with family and social life. Women commuters were at a greater disadvantage than men, having more family difficulties, more travelling complaints and higher absenteeism.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carte JR, Paran F (1983) Accidents de trajet et mobilité domicile-travail. Rapport de recherche, INRETS (ONSER) Arcueil
Costa G, Apostoli P, Chiesi AM, Peretti S (1984) The journey from home to the workplace: the impact on the safety and health of the commuters/workers. Italy. Eur Found for the Improvement of Living and Working Cond, Dublin
Costa G, Pickup L, DiMartino V (1988) Commuting — A further stress factor for working people: evidence from the European Community. I. A review. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 60:371–376
Costa G, Tieghi S, Chiesi AM (1986) Interferences between commuting and shiftwork. In: Haider M, Koller M, Cervinka R (eds) Night and shiftwork: longterm effects and their prevention. Peter Lang GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, pp 311–318
Heloe LA, Kolberg JE (1974) Dental status and treatment pattern in a group of commuting laborers in Norway. Commun Dent Oral Epidemiol 2/5:203–207
Pickup L, Town SW (1983) A European study of commuting and its consequences. Eur Found for the Improvement of Living and Working Cond, Dublin
Zung WWK (1971) A rating instrument for anxiety disorders. Psychosomatics 12:231–379
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Costal, G., Pickup, L. & Di Martino, V. Commuting — a further stress factor for working people: evidence from the European Community. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 60, 377–385 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405674
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00405674