Long Commutes Are Hard Enough... Risk of Loneliness Rises by 49% When Commute Exceeds 60 Minutes

Office workers are holding onto their umbrellas tightly as they head to work at the Yeouido Bus Transfer Center. This is unrelated to the article content.

A study has found that the longer a person's commute, the greater their risk of feeling lonely. The research also revealed that individuals who commute by private car or live alone are particularly vulnerable.

On September 24, Professor Choi Baekyong and his research team from the Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, announced the results of their analysis in the Journal of Transport & Health. The team examined the correlation between commute time and loneliness among 24,278 office workers living in Seoul in 2023.

The researchers measured participants' feelings of loneliness using questions from the "2023 Seoul Survey" and divided them into three groups based on one-way commute time: 30 minutes or less, 31 to 60 minutes, and more than 60 minutes.

The results showed that, compared to the group with commute times of 30 minutes or less, those with commutes exceeding 60 minutes had a 49% higher risk of feeling lonely in family relationships. The risk of feeling lonely in relationships with people outside the family was 36% higher.

When analyzing the group commuting more than 60 minutes by mode of transportation, those who used private cars showed a tendency toward increased loneliness. In contrast, there was little change among those who commuted by public transportation, on foot, or by bicycle.

The research team stated, "The longer the commute time, especially when it exceeds 60 minutes, the greater the risk of feeling lonely. Private car users and people who live alone are the most vulnerable." They emphasized, "Urban planning and policy should aim to reduce commute times and encourage social participation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.