The impact of the Internet on human activity-travel patterns: analysis of gender differences using multi-group structural equation models

Fang Ren, Mei Po Kwan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The widespread use of the Internet for conducting various types of activities may be leading to considerable change in people's activity-travel patterns. Past studies, however, have left many issues unaddressed. Using an Internet-activity diary dataset and multi-group structural equation modeling, this study examines the complex interactions between different types of Internet and physical activities, with a special focus on gender differences and Internet maintenance and leisure activities. The results indicate that the impacts of Internet activities on people's activity-travel patterns are significantly different across gender. In general, Internet use for maintenance purposes has a greater impact on women's activity-travel in the physical world, while Internet use for leisure purposes affects men's physical activities and travel to a greater extent. Further, breaking Internet activities down into different categories reveals some hidden patterns that would not have been detected if these different types of Internet activities were lumped together as a single category.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)440-450
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Transport Geography
Volume17
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Activity-travel patterns
  • Gender
  • ICT
  • Internet
  • Structural equation modeling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Transportation
  • General Environmental Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The impact of the Internet on human activity-travel patterns: analysis of gender differences using multi-group structural equation models'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this