The Workplace Dilemma: Examining the Effects of Work-Related Constraints on Travel Decision-Making

Work-related constraints significantly hinder individuals’ ability to engage in leisure travel, impacting mental health and work–life balance. This study investigates the influence of work-related travel constraints on travel intentions using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as a framework. By integrating work-related constraints into the TPB model, this study examines how these barriers shape attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, as well as their subsequent impact on travel intentions. Data were collected through an online survey of 274 employed individuals in South Korea and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that work-related travel constraints negatively affect attitudes and perceived behavioral control, which in turn reduce travel intentions. Subjective norms, however, positively influence attitudes and perceived behavioral control, highlighting the critical role of social support in mitigating constraints. Additionally, attitudes mediate the relationship between work-related constraints and travel intentions, as well as between subjective norms and travel intentions. These results emphasize the psychological and structural effects of work-related constraints on leisure travel decisions. The research offers both theoretical and practical insights, advocating for workplace policies and initiatives aimed at enhancing work–life balance and facilitating leisure travel for individuals facing constraints.