Residential dissonance and changes in travel satisfaction: Evidence from Japanese dual-earner couples

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which residential dissonance affected changes in travel satisfaction before and during the pandemic. We conducted a gender-specific analysis using data from 540 spouses in 270 households in Greater Nagoya, Japan. The results showed that for women, the negative dissonance of accessibility and neighborhood socialization may deteriorate commute satisfaction, while the negative dissonance of car alternatives may decrease non-commute satisfaction. For men, the positive dissonance of aesthetics decreased non-commute satisfaction. Moreover, men who decreased car use reported a decrease in commute satisfaction. Men who cycled less frequently experienced a decrease in non-commute satisfaction, while women who cycled more frequently reported an increase in non-commute satisfaction. The findings suggest the importance of gender in travel satisfaction and suggest that intervention strategies should be tailored to address the needs of specific population subgroups, such as working women in dual-earner households.