Assessing the relationships between young adults’ travel and use of the internet over time

Wu, G., Hong, J. and Thakuriah, P. V. (2019) Assessing the relationships between young adults’ travel and use of the internet over time. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 125, pp. 8-19. (doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2019.05.002)

Abstract

Although young people’s mobility behaviors and their association with information and communications technologies (ICT) usage have been extensively researched, few studies have considered the relationship between changes in the use of ICT over time and young people’s travel patterns. This paper explores how use of the Internet during adolescence/late childhood and the degree of change while transitioning from late childhood to adulthood is related to sustainable travel patterns in young adults. We are particularly interested in the mediating role that attitudes towards the environment have on the relationship between early age Internet use and sustainable travel in young adults. The use of rich, longitudinal datasets, the 2004 British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and the Understanding Society Survey (Wave 4, 2012/14), allow an investigation of these attitudes and relationships for the same people from childhood to adulthood. We use structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the complex interrelationships between young adults’ Internet use over time, their travel modes and attitudes towards the environment, and other related behaviors. Our key finding is that consistently high levels of Internet use between adolescence and young adulthood is associated with the formation of environmental attitudes. While other factors not considered in this study might also have an effect, we find that these attitudes are indirectly but significantly associated with young adults’ sustainable travel patterns and behaviors.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Thakuriah, Professor Piyushimita and Hong, Dr Jinhyun
• Authors: Wu, G., Hong, J., and Thakuriah, P. V.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0965-8564
• ISSN (Online): 1879-2375
• Published Online: 15 May 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 Elsevier
• First Published: First published in Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 125:8-19
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher