Commuting stress: Problems of definition and variable identification

Although researchers recognise the commuting experience as a potential source of stress, findings regarding its impact on various individual and organisational outcomes have been inconclusive. In the present paper, a review of relevant studies that examined the potential influence of commuting stress on psychological, physiological, and behavioural strain measures is reported and inconsistencies noted. A model linking objective and subjective measures of the Stressor directly and indirectly to outcome is described. It is suggested that by including several critical moderators, such as control, predictability, and time urgency, predictions emanating from commuting stress stimuli can be enhanced.