Teleworkers and physical commuters during the COVID-19 pandemic: the change in mobility related attitudes and the intention to telecommute in the future

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted commuting habits, with many individuals shifting to telecommuting. This study examines the impact of disrupted commuting habits on psychological constructs, such as attitudes or active lifestyle. Using longitudinal survey data from the California panel study of emerging transportation, the study compares two groups (those who started telecommuting, N = 458, and those who continued physically commuting, N = 523) at two points (early pandemic 2020 and later pandemic 2021). Exploratory factor analysis was used to extract the latent psychological constructs and structural equation modeling was used to model the intention to telecommute in the future for each year. Results show that some psychological constructs (such as attitude toward sustainable modes) remain stable across groups and time, while others (such as concern about pathogens) depend on both group and stage of the pandemic. The intention to telecommute in the future remains high and is mainly dependent on individuals’ attitude toward it and their tech-savviness, rather than on a concern about pathogens or demographics. The findings may inform policies that promote sustainable and flexible mobility options, like telecommuting, that have the potential to enhance work-life balance in a post-pandemic world.