| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 310715 | Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice | 2014 | 14 Pages |
•Study the impacts of social networks on joint activity–travel behavior in Hong Kong.•Emotional support significantly impacts on choices of activity companions.•Social companionship significantly impacts on choices of activity companions.•Social network size significantly impacts on choices of activity companions.•Social network composition significantly impacts on choices of activity companions.
The social dimension of activity–travel behavior has recently received much research attention. This paper aims to make a contribution to this growing literature by investigating individuals’ engagements in joint activities and activity companion choices. Using activity–travel diary data collected in Hong Kong in 2010, this study examines the impact of social network attributes on the decisions between solo and joint activities, and for joint activities, the choices of companions. Chi-square difference tests are used to assess the importance of social network variables in explaining joint activity behavior. We find that the inclusion of social network attributes significantly improves the goodness-of-fit of the model with only socioeconomic variables. Specifically, individuals receiving emotional support and social companionship from family members/relatives are found to more likely undertake joint activities with their family members/relatives; the size of personal social networks is found to be a significant determinant of companion choices for joint activities; and activity companions are found to be significant determinants of travel companions. The findings of this study improve the understanding about activity–travel, especially joint activity–travel decisions.
