Psychosocial determinants of public transportation use among Brazilian and American users: An integrated modelling approach

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/riep.v29i2.95320

Keywords:

public transportation use, psychosocial determinants, travel behaviour.

Abstract

Overreliance on cars can promote individual, environmental, economic and social problems, requiring the development of measures to reduce car use and encourage the use of more sustainable transport options. Contributing to this call, here we report a cross-cultural study conducted in Brazil (n = 312) and the United States (n = 518) investigating the applicability of the model of Bamberg and Möser in predicting the use of public transport. Results indicated the model is equivalent across samples, regarding both the measures and the relations between the variables of the model. Intention strongly predicted self-reported public transport behaviour, explaining 70% of the variance. Intention in turn was mainly influenced by perceived behavioural control, suggesting that the more people perceive public transportation as an easy behaviour, the greater their intention to use this mode of transport. We suggest interventions to increase perceived control so that public transportation can be seen as a readily accessible option. It is estimated that perceived behavioural control, and intention to use public transportation could be increased by providing information, encouraging the use, and improving the service quality.

Author Biographies

Ingrid Luiza Neto, Universidade Católica de Brasília

Professora no Programa de Mestrado e Doutorado em Psicologia da Universidade Católica de Brasília

Hartmut Günther, Universidade de Brasília

Professor Emérito da Universidade de Brasília

Bryan E. Porter, Old Dominion University

Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Psychology at Old Dominion University. He studies community public health and safety, mostly in traffic psychology areas. His work regularly involves partners in government, media, and law enforcement.

Taciano L. Milfont, University of Waikato

Reader in Environmental Psychology (School of Psychology)
at University of Waikato

Pastor Willy Gonzales Taco, Universidade de Brasília

Professor do Programa de Pós Graduação em Transportes da Universidade de Brasília

Caroline Cardoso Machado, Universidade de Brasília

Doutoranda na Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo da Universidade de Brasília

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Published

2025-09-29

How to Cite

Neto, I. L., Günther, H., Porter, B. E., Milfont, T. L., Gonzales Taco, P. W., & Machado, C. C. (2025). Psychosocial determinants of public transportation use among Brazilian and American users: An integrated modelling approach. Interação Em Psicologia, 29(2). https://doi.org/10.5380/riep.v29i2.95320

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Seção especial

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Ingrid Luiza Neto, Hartmut Günther, Bryan E. Porter, Taciano L. Milfont, Pastor Willy Gonzales Taco, Caroline Cardoso Machado

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