Mental toll of traffic jams on workers
From a psychological perspective, tension caused by commuting can carry over to the workplace, potentially triggering conflicts between individuals and lowering team morale.
SHAH ALAM - Being stuck in daily traffic jams can take a toll on a person's mental health, including lorry drivers.
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris psychology and counseling expert Associate Professor Dr Fauziah Mohd said one of the impacts was that it could cause individuals to experience stress and anxiety.
She explained that when trapped in long traffic jams, drivers may feel pressured, especially if they were racing against time or facing other challenges such as bad weather or fatigue.
"Drivers may also face anger and frustration. These experiences can trigger feelings of anger and impatience, often referred to as road rage," she told Sinar.
Dr Fauziah noted that in the long term, repeated exposure to traffic stress can contribute to issues such as insomnia, depression and generalised anxiety disorders.
It could affect daily productivity when people were frequently late for work, she added.
She said traffic congestion can also lead to fatigue due to prolonged travel times.
"This can reduce workers' energy levels before starting their tasks, as well as decrease efficiency and motivation.
"From a psychological perspective, tension caused by commuting can carry over to the workplace, potentially triggering conflicts between individuals and lowering team morale," she said.
Fauziah suggested initiatives to avoid stress during traffic congestion, such as promoting the use of technology for remote work (work from home / WFH).
"With this, employees can avoid daily traffic congestion, thereby reducing stress and improving mental well-being.
"In fact, studies have also shown that employees working from home are often more productive as they can work in a more comfortable environment without the distractions of commuting," she said.
