International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

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The Impact of Traffic Congestion on Quality Family Time

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Traffic congestion is one of the main challenges faced by urban residents, especially in rapidly developing suburban areas such as Sepang, Selangor. The increase in the number of vehicles, imbalanced urban planning, and limitations in the public transportation system have contributed to prolonged congestion, which not only affects physical mobility but also has psychological, social, and emotional impacts on families. This study aims to examine the effects of traffic congestion on family well-being, focusing on the influence of traffic congestion factors on the quality of time spent with family. This research employed a descriptive design with a quantitative survey approach, involving 400 respondents selected through purposive sampling from various residential zones in the Sepang district of Malaysia. Data was collected through online questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 29 through descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, including multiple regression. Findings indicate that traffic congestion stems from five main factors: peak hour traffic volume, vehicle ownership, poor quality of public transportation services, spillover from development projects, and limitations in work flexibility. Three main aspects of quality family time were identified: emotional stress, travel time, and family activities, with emotional stress recording the highest mean value. However, vehicle ownership did not show a significant relationship with quality family time, suggesting that vehicles may serve as tools for adaptation rather than sources of stress. The implications of the study suggest that family well-being can be affected when external pressures such as traffic congestion disrupt time balance, emotions, and family interactions. Therefore, time management, adjustment of family routines, and awareness of the importance of family time need to be strengthened among households. In addition, more balanced and controlled development planning should be emphasized to ensure that physical growth of an area does not exacerbate traffic pressure, which ultimately impacts the family institution negatively.
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