How do multitaskers and screen addicts perceive travel elements?

Introduction: The proliferation of travel-based multitasking activities has been attracting more and more attention since it is assumed to have the potential to alter people's in-vehicle behavioural patterns, and their perception of travel elements, such as travel time/cost/seat availability. Despite the pioneering efforts in establishing the theoretical supports for people's in-vehicle activity, a systematic assessment leveraging on psychological factors, namely travel-based multitasking habit and travel-based smart device addiction, are lagging behind. Methods: To fill in this gap, we designed a stated choice (SC) experiment, and collected responses from 886 travellers in Singapore. Self-reported travel-based multitasking habit and travel-based smart devices are considered as latent constructs in the integrated choice model. Results: We found that multitasking habit helps to mitigate negativity from increased travel time and need for having a seat, while smart device addiction is found to be amplifying such negative impacts on travel utility. Furthermore we found that younger travellers are more likely to develop such habit while being an older people (60 or more) is negatively related to multitasking habit formation. Males are also less likely to develop multitasking habit while travelling, however they are more likely to form device addiction. Conclusion: The results highlight the impacts of smart device usage on individuals. It is worth pointing out the adverse effects on the individuals as induced from excessive use of smart devices addiction even in travelling scenario, which has been long ignored.