Commute Time of 44 Minutes Marks Mental Health Turning Point

A US study of 568 dual-income full-time workers found a U-shaped link between one-way commute time and psychological distress.

Psychological distress decreased as commute time increased up to about 44 minutes, then rose when commutes exceeded 44 minutes.

The U-shaped pattern was stronger among workers with high job pressure and among those bearing moderate or higher household labor burdens.

The study sample was majority White, highly educated, with a median household income of $150,000.