Psychological mechanisms of commuting: A cognitive dissonance approach to intercontinental commuting discomfort in Istanbul

This study explores the psychological mechanisms relevant for reducing commute dissonance, i.e., the psychological discomfort due to an inconsistency between commute-related cognitions and behaviour, based on Cognitive Dissonance Theory. The study is contextualised in Istanbul, where many professionals commute between Europe and Asia for work almost daily and experience its negative effects on well-being. Sudden change to such intercontinental commuting due to lockdown restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic provided a nuanced exploration of commuter attitudes and behaviour. Semi-structed interviews were conducted before (N = 40) and after the pandemic (N = 15). Interviews explored participants’ commuting perceptions, experience, attitudes and motivations. Findings show that effort justification (commuting as trade-off for living in Istanbul and/or in the preferred neighbourhood and as effective time use) is the primary psychological mechanism commuters use for rationalising the intercontinental commute. Our results confirm empirical research on residential location, family relations and career opportunities. This exploration contributes to urban scholarship by highlighting the relevance of intrinsic needs (i.e., place attachment) associated with urban characteristics of the city and the neighbourhood, and demonstrating the intersection of urban characteristics and psychological mechanisms in explaining commuting cognition and behaviour. From a policy and practice perspective, our findings suggest that urban planning strategies should also focus on improving the commuting experience, even if transportation infrastructure cannot be changed in the short term.