Cycling to work can make your day less stressful
Stress relief is not the only benefit of cycling.
(Online) - According to new research, there may be a simple way to alleviate workplace stress: cycling.
Researchers from Concordia University in Canada found that individuals who cycled to work reported feeling less stressed, compared with people who traveled to work by car.
Lead study author Stéphane Brutus, of the John Molson School of Business at Concordia, and colleagues recently used a web-based survey to collect information from 123 adults. The survey asked about employees mode of travel to work (whether they commuted to work using a bike, car, or method of public transport), their perceived stress levels, and their perceived mood.
"Recent research has shown that early morning stress and mood are strong predictors of their effect later in the day," explains Brutus. "They can shape how subsequent events are perceived, interpreted, and acted upon for the rest of the day."
Compared with employees who traveled to work by car, those who cycled to work reported much lower stress levels within 45 minutes of arrival.
However, the researchers note that there were no differences in stress levels between employees who traveled to work by car and those who commuted using public transport.
The study does not explain why cyclists reported feeling less stressed than drivers, but previous research suggests that it may be down to the physical activity involved in cycling, which is known to lower stress.
But stress relief is not the only benefit of cycling; the researchers point to a study from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, which found that cycling could reduce CO2 emissions by 11 percent.
The researchers hope that their study, along with previous research documenting the benefits of cycling, will help to inform public health policies in relation to transport.
"With growing concerns about traffic congestion and pollution, governments are increasingly promoting non-motorized alternative modes of transport, such as walking and cycling," says Brutus.
