Impact of Commuting Stress on Urban Travel Behaviour—Case of Delhi Metropolitan City in India

Expanding urban centres experience increased trip durations and trip frequencies, among which most recurrent trips are work-related. A substantial, approximately two-fifths, of the urban populace, undertakes concurrent workplace commutes. The study emphasizes addressing the effects of Commuting Stress on work productivity, social well-being and health. Commuting Stress is induced by distinct stressors categorized according to modes of travel or external environmental factors. Commuters navigating these stressors daily undergo a tri-phasic coping mechanism aimed at mitigating Commuting Stress. Notably, personal control emerges as a moderator, exerting influence over the effects of daily commuting experiences. The study is carried out in the Delhi Metropolitan Area encompassing a network of nine adjacent cities. Within this ambit, social variables are meticulously measured using an ordinal scale (Likert scale), accompanied by a detailed recording of socio-economic attributes and trip-specific information for commuters. The statistical apparatus of ordinal regression is employed to estimate mean Commuting Stress levels across distinct categories of urban transport modes. Subsequently, the study explores the likelihood of commuters adopting three mitigation strategies using Multinomial Logistic Regression to reduce Commuting Stress.