The Relationship between Perceived Traffic Congestion, Commute Stress & Aggressive Driving in College Students

Abstract

Bengaluru being one of the most congested cities in the world, traffic congestion is a problem that affects various aspects of people living there. It has been stated in several studies previously that traffic congestion is associated with commute stress and aggressive driving. The current study mainly focused on the relationship between perceived traffic congestion, commute stress, and aggressive driving in college students. As Bengaluru has some of the best universities in India, the number of students that come to Bengaluru is high. This study provides relevant scientific data that can be used to guide the actions to deal with the problem of traffic congestion in Bengaluru. There was a total of 64 participants (M=27, F=37) and Pearson correlation and independent t-test was used for statistical analysis. The results showed significant positive correlation between perceived traffic congestion and aggressive driving (p < .01); commute stress and aggressive driving (p < .05). The results also found significant difference on commute stress and aggressive driving among drivers and non-drivers. The present study by exploring the relationship between perceived traffic congestion, commute stress, and aggressive driving, highlights the implications that traffic congestion has on mental health of the college students. It points to the need for change and governmental involvement in the issue to abate the negative consequences of traffic congestion in Bengaluru.