TY - JOUR
T1 - Psychosocial benefits and positive mood related to habitual bicycle use
AU - Kaplan, Sigal
AU - Wrzesinska, Dagmara K.
AU - Prato, Carlo G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2019/7
Y1 - 2019/7
N2 - This study explores the relations between cycling habits, eudaimonic well-being and positive mood. Specifically, this study investigates whether cycling contributes to the formation of positive physical, social, and self-actualisation concepts, which in turn could affect the mood and well-being of travellers. A survey was administered to 1131 inhabitants of the Brisbane area in Australia to elicit their socioeconomic traits and travel habits, as well as to measure self-concepts related to self-actualisation and the relation between cycling and mood. Structural equation modelling explored the system of relations between socioeconomic characteristics, observed travel habits, and latent self-concepts. The results of this study highlight that there exists a positive relation between bicycle use, self-actualisation on physical, psychological, social and self-efficacy dimensions and positive mood. Also, the findings of this study suggest that policy implications follow: (i) active travel to school and work should be promoted as a mean to increase the eudaimonic capacity through cycling, as this is one of the most important capacities for both children and adults; (ii) improvements in cycling infrastructure would not only foster higher cycling rates, but also reduce stress for commuter cyclists; (iii) eudaimonic benefits should be included in multi-criteria and cost-benefit analyses to better grasp cycling benefits.
AB - This study explores the relations between cycling habits, eudaimonic well-being and positive mood. Specifically, this study investigates whether cycling contributes to the formation of positive physical, social, and self-actualisation concepts, which in turn could affect the mood and well-being of travellers. A survey was administered to 1131 inhabitants of the Brisbane area in Australia to elicit their socioeconomic traits and travel habits, as well as to measure self-concepts related to self-actualisation and the relation between cycling and mood. Structural equation modelling explored the system of relations between socioeconomic characteristics, observed travel habits, and latent self-concepts. The results of this study highlight that there exists a positive relation between bicycle use, self-actualisation on physical, psychological, social and self-efficacy dimensions and positive mood. Also, the findings of this study suggest that policy implications follow: (i) active travel to school and work should be promoted as a mean to increase the eudaimonic capacity through cycling, as this is one of the most important capacities for both children and adults; (ii) improvements in cycling infrastructure would not only foster higher cycling rates, but also reduce stress for commuter cyclists; (iii) eudaimonic benefits should be included in multi-criteria and cost-benefit analyses to better grasp cycling benefits.
KW - Cycling
KW - Habitual bicycle use
KW - Psychosocial benefits
KW - Self-concepts
KW - Sustainable travel modes
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85066600813&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.trf.2019.05.018
DO - 10.1016/j.trf.2019.05.018
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AN - SCOPUS:85066600813
SN - 1369-8478
VL - 64
SP - 342
EP - 352
JO - Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
JF - Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
ER -