The influence of life events on the attitude-behavior relationship among household couples: A longitudinal study

Abstract

The present study aims to examine the extent to which the attitude-behavior relationship is affected by life events for household couples by combining the mobility biography approach and habit discontinuity theory. Using data from the Netherlands, we applied bias-adjusted three-step multigroup latent class transition models that allowed us to make comparisons between couples for latent classes and their transitions. We identified two classes for cars (car-lover and car-dispensable), three classes for trains and bus/tram/metro (BTM) (train/BTM-enthusiast, train-potential/BTM-captive, and non-train-user/BTM-haters), and three classes for cycling (cycling-lover, −enthusiast, and -avoider) based on travel frequency and attitude. The results show that gender differences exist across latent classes within each travel mode. Men were more likely to be car lovers, non-train users, and BTM-haters, whereas women were more likely to be cycling lovers, train-potential, and BTM-captives. Personal and household life events influence the travel pattern transition process, and these impacts differ by gender. Men are more likely to switch to the car-lover cluster than women after the occurrence of life events, such as childbirth and car acquisition. People may adjust their attitudes and travel behaviors gradually and to a limited extent; thus, further studies with multiple waves are necessary.