[Usage behavior related to the 9-Euro-ticket - impetus for psychiatric outpatients to increase activity and social contacts?]

Abstract

This study presents first descriptive statistics on the usage behavior relating to discounted tickets for public transportation as part of an initiative of the German Federal Government in 2022. During a three-month period, 103 psychiatric outpatients of the University Clinic - Charité Berlin provided self-reported data by completing a survey. In general results suggested a high usage rate of the so-called "9-Euro-ticket" of 89,3%. Due to its purchase, 37,9% (N=39) of the participants felt motivated to explore unknown places. Furthermore, approximately one third of the sample (34,9%; n=36) reported an increase of social contacts as a result of their ticket usage. A higher influence of costs on participants' activity levels was associated with an increase in main symptoms. Higher age was correlated with a decrease of patients' core symptoms due to their activity. Results indicate a high usage of reduced-price tickets for subsidized public transport by the patients concerned.