PSYCHOLOGY MASTER'S THESIS ABSTRACT

Sarah B. Lurie

Industrial/Organizational
August 2008

The Morning Commute: The Moderating Effects of Locus of Control and Organizational Commitment

on Employees' Perceived Commuting Strain

    The purpose of this study was to investigate how commuting speed and employees' perceived strain were related to each other.  Locus of control and organizational commitments were hypothesized as moderators of the relationship between speed and perceived strain.
    One hundred and seventy employees working at a pipe distribution company were invited to participate.  They were administered measures that assessed speed, perceived commute strain, their preference for an internal or external locus of control, affective organizational commitments, and a demographical questionnaire.
    Results from 58 participants indicated that the hypothesized relationship between commuting impedance and perceived strain was not supported nor could support be provided for organizational commitment as a moderator.  Although not significant, speed explained approximately 4% of overall commuting strain, a valid finding for those who drive long distances to work.

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