The Impact of Urban Travel Stress on the Well-being and Job Efficiency of Civil Servants in Ibadan, Nigeria

This paper examines the effect of travel-related stress on the work performance and well-being of civil servants in Ibadan, Nigeria. The study aims to assess the extent to which daily commuting conditions influence workers’ health, productivity, and overall job efficiency. The objectives are to identify the major travel stressors encountered by civil servants; evaluate the relationship between socio-economic characteristics and perceived stress; assess the condition of urban transport infrastructure and its contribution to stress; and determine the effects of travel stress on workers’ well-being and job performance. Primary data were obtained from 139 civil servants across selected ministries. Variables analysed include urban infrastructure condition indicators neighbourhood road quality, public transport condition, streetlight functionality, traffic flow, drainage condition, and bus-stop facilities, and stress impact indicators such as fever, headache, stomach disorder, cold, elevated body temperature, and body pain. Analytical tools employed include descriptive statistics and Likert scaling. Major stress-inducing factors identified include traffic congestion, poor road surfaces, queues at bus stops, and impatience among road users. The study concludes that travel stress remains a critical challenge affecting the physical well-being and job performance of civil servants in Ibadan. Recommendations include improving public transport services, rehabilitating and expanding road infrastructure, enforcing traffic management regulations, strengthening street lighting and drainage systems, and developing worker-oriented mobility policies such as synchronized mass transit services and priority lanes for civil servants. Implementing these measures will enhance accessibility, safety, affordability, and comfort within the intra-urban transport system, ultimately improving workplace productivity and overall quality of life for civil servants.