Have you ever ridden in the morning to eight o’clock on the A3 from Oberhausen to Köln? No? You should not also. Almost every day there is a traffic jam here is so strong, that it is track only at a walking pace forward. The man behind honks, the front man to constantly switch between the tracks to and fro. In a word: a single sheet of chaos.
Many workers have no other choice. Because of the attractive place of work is not necessarily always the best place to live. And so, about 14 million Germans bumper-to-bumper push each and every day through the rush hour traffic. Anyone who throws a glance in the neighboring vehicle, harvests are often angry or frustrated looks.
Frustration and anger is the one. Studies have shown that the constant In the jam Are in the long term to serious health and social problems can lead. An Overview.
1. Time pressure means Stress
Who is in a traffic jam, the device quickly under the pressure of time. What time is it now? You make it in time for the agreed date? And how the boss will react? This uncertainty and the time pressure lead to Stress.
Due to the continuous Stress, in turn, increases the risk for numerous health problems, for example
- Infectious diseases (e.g. common cold),
- mental illness,
- Headache,
- Stomach problems,
- High blood pressure and
- Cardiovascular diseases (e.g. atherosclerosis).
2. Motorists are stressed out most
Anyone who commutes to work by car, has a seat and is guaranteed not to be disturbed by phone duration of users – in contrast to those workers who commute every day by Bus and train.
However, motorists are the most stressed-out commuter group. You need to early in the Morning or in the evening a strong focus on notorious a pushy driver and other traffic participants pay attention to.
3. Commuters to suffer from Burn-out
The scientist Annie Barreck of the University of Montréal has investigated in a study with nearly 2,000 participants, whether the length of the route and the time duration of the daily journey to Work is the Burn-out can affect risk.
And indeed: The risk for Burn-out symptoms (e.g., decreasing job satisfaction and symptoms of Depression) increases significantly, if the journey to work longer than 20 minutes will take.
“There is a correlation between the pendulum to suffer related stress factors and the likelihood of a Burn-out,“ explains Barreck. “How strong this is, however, depends on various factors. It varies depending on the personality, conditions of travel and the workplace.”
4. Commuters have less leisure time
Anyone who drives a car to work, spends his evenings standing in a traffic jam. Commuting takes time, a lot of time – and at the expense of leisure.
The scientist Thomas James Christian of Brown University wanted to know exactly and has established a complex formula to determine how much time is actually due to the oscillation is lost.
For every Minute that you for the daily commuting needs, you will lose in addition
- 0,0257 minutes it’s time for sports,
- To 0.0387 minutes time for cooking and
- 0,2205 minutes it’s time for Sleep.
An example: Someone who, every day, a total of 180 minutes, commutes, sleep, statistically, 40 minutes shorter than someone who is only a few minutes commuting to work must.
5. Commuters are more likely to have back and neck pain
A survey of more than 170,000 US citizens has as a result of: One of three commuters who need a daily basis for longer than 90 minutes for their way to work, suffering from back and neck pain. In the case of the short commuters, it is every Fourth.
In addition, the scientists came to the conclusion that people who commute a lot and often, are more likely to be overweight and higher cholesterol levels. A possible explanation is that commuters have less time for exercise and healthy eating.
6. Commuters are more likely to have a cynical attitude towards their work
35 minutes commute to work increases the risk of a negative and cynical attitude to work and others to develop the knowledge of Annie Barreck of the University of Montréal. The result is that Who is constantly in a traffic jam, is not only stressed, but also unfortunate.
7. Commuters-children often suffer from emotional and social problems
A study of the science centre Berlin for social research (WZB) has shown that children tend to have emotional and social problems, if the father has to take daily long distances to work.
“The Stress from the Commute rubs off on the children,” say the study’s authors, Matthias Pollmann-Schult and Jiang Hong Li. “We suspect that a mechanism behind this”.
Tips for commuters
- Don’t let other drivers stress out! Push or to change constantly, the track brings in the much. The jam is still there.
- Talk with your employer and ask for more flexible working time arrangements. The decreases come in the morning time pressure, since you do not have to fear to be late. You might be able to Dodge the traffic in time.
- Reasons for car sharing: those Who share a car with others, has to travel all the same company. This relieves the psychological strain and the driver can alternate.
Sources
Li, J., Pollmann-Schult, M.: Fathers’ Commute to Work and Children’s Social and Emotional Well-Being in Germany. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Vol. 37, Iss. 3, pp. 488-501 (2016)
Press release of the University of Montreal: You’re driving yourself to burnout, literally (26.5.2015)
Sandow, E.: On the road: Social aspects of commuting long distances to work. Dissertation, Umeå University, Department of geography and economic history (as of 2011)
Christian, T. J.: Opportunity costs surrounding exercise and dietary behaviors: Quantifying trade-offs between commuting time and health-related activities. Working Paper of the Social Science Research Network (SSRN): www.dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1490117 (2009)
Stutzer, A., Frey, B. S.: Stress that doesn’t pay: The commuting paradox. The Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Vol. 110, Iss.2, pp. 339-366 (2008)
*The post “7 reasons why the constant In the jam Are released ill” is the power of Onmeda. Contact with the executives here.