Exploring the relationship of built environment, commute, and walkability with subjective wellbeing in metro areas of United States

The place where we live and work and the way we travel through these places shape the patterns of our life. Our interaction and participation with these patterns influence our wellbeing. This research project studies the changes in subjective wellbeing based on the perceptions about neighborhood environment, commute, and walkability. The study uses Detroit Area Study, 2001, and Washington DC Traffic Poll, 2005 dataset. The analysis uses ordinary least squares regressions to examine the associations. I find that perceptions about the neighborhood-built environment are essential predictors of subjective wellbeing. Individuals who perceived that their neighborhood had social capital and greenness reported higher subjective wellbeing than individuals who did not perceive it. While commute time does not have any association with subjective wellbeing, categorical specification to commute time gives more information about the impact of commute duration on wellbeing. I also find that more than commute duration, the commute conditions or experience play a more significant role in lowering subjective wellbeing. Walking behavior was also found to impact subjective wellbeing significantly, although it might be a mediating factor between neighborhood walkability and wellbeing, which was not explored in the analysis. The results indicate that perceptions and evaluation of our surrounding environment play a key role in the quality of life and should be included in policy making.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference