Long commutes linked to higher stress, study finds

A new study suggests even moderate commute times can negatively impact mental health.

A new study shows longer commutes can affect mental health — but not simply because of the stress of traffic. The issue, researchers say, is the personal time it takes away.

A daily commute is a big part of most people’s workday.

“It takes around 30 minutes, 35 minutes. It depends,” one commuter said.

“Without traffic, it’s 25 minutes by car. With traffic, it can go anywhere up to two hours. And by metro, it’s two hours. I hate the commute, it’s just long,” said another.

Dr. Annie Barreck, the study’s lead author, says the more time people spend commuting, the more likely they are to experience work-family conflict and psychological distress.

She adds that long commutes can interfere with work-life balance and time with loved ones.

“It is a very important issue that we have in our societies, with parents, with both parents working and having both professional and family responsibilities,” she said.

The study also found that how people commute matters. While Barreck says public transportation is crucial, the research suggests it’s often more stressful than driving to work.

“Probably that using a car gives employees a little bit more sense of control,” Barreck said.

According to Statistics Canada, the average commute time in the country is 26 minutes. While it’s not clear what constitutes a “long” commute, Barreck says her previous research found that even a 20-minute trip to work can have a negative impact.

“There were more symptoms of burnout after 20 minutes,” she said.

Barreck says employers should try to be more accommodating by offering work-from-home opportunities and flexible hours — short-term strategies that can pay off in the long run.