Prior research shows a link between increased time spent commuting via public transportation and absenteeism in high school students due to increased stress (Stein & Grigg, 2019). Our research analyzes the relationship between transportation time and commuting stress levels. We recruited 186 participants from a UCSC undergraduate psychology research and methods class. The majority of participants (86.7%) were in their third or fourth years of undergrad with an average age of 20.68. Participants took a survey lasting 45 minutes. The survey consisted of Likert-style questions to determine participant stress and time estimates on UCSC public transportation. 

As transportation time increased, students’ commuting stress increased (r(173) = .21, p = .005). These findings suggest the need for a revised campus public transportation system. However, the study's reliance on convenience sampling introduced bias and compromised external validity, emphasizing the need for further research with more diverse and representative samples.

Joezy Martinez, Danny Vo, Sophia Swalander, Rachel Hargraves, Natalia Soto, Faith Powell, Piper Mahn, Arnold Ngaophasy pravong, Niveda Arun, Evony Sanchez, Ethan Ramsey, Dorian David, Allison King, Amber LaFranboise, Belle Callaghan Sansone, Cindy Hong, Kiana Josephson, Menaka Satya, Kaitlin Rodriguez, Sergio Lopez, Hunter Wedaa, Evalani Dudum, Charli Shaw, Adam Starkman, Manasvi Chalamcherla

Stein, M. L., & Grigg, J. A. (2019). Missing Bus, Missing School: Establishing the Relationship Between Public Transit Use and Student Absenteeism. American Educational Research Journal, 56(5), 1834–1860. https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831219833917

Allen, J., & Farber, S. (2018). How time-use and transportation barriers limit on-campus participation of university students. Travel Behaviour and Society, 13, 174–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tbs.2018.08.003