The Multitasking Distortion in Railway Passenger Well-Being: Intrinsic Motivation, Digital Media Usage, and the Moderating Role of the On-Train Environment

The widespread adoption of information and communication technology enables passengers to transform travel into productive time. However, constant internet connectivity creates multitasking environments that do not necessarily improve passengers’ subjective well-being. To support sustainable urban mobility and social sustainability, public transport must provide high-quality travel experiences. Based on a survey of Tokyo railway passengers (N = 461), the association between digital media usage and subjective well-being was evaluated concerning motivation, media format, and the on-train environment. Cluster analysis and multi-group structural equation modeling revealed that intrinsic motivation strongly predicted onboard well-being. While analog media users exhibited high onboard well-being, digital media usage demonstrated a multitasking distortion: onboard well-being decreased despite high intrinsic motivation. This negative impact was prominent in High-Duration/High-Adaptation environments characterized by abundant travel time and habituation. Furthermore, enhanced onboard well-being significantly spilled over to overall life satisfaction. These findings suggest that constant connectivity in High-Duration/High-Adaptation environments consumes cognitive resources, obstructing travel’s restorative potential. Improving passenger well-being and maintaining modal shifts requires designing environments as cognitive shelters that support intentional disconnection.