Exploring the relationship between life events, mode preferences and mode use of young adults: A 3-year cross-lagged panel analysis in the Netherlands

•Longitudinal analysis with 2014, 2015 and 2016 waves of Netherlands Mobility Panel.•3-Year random intercept cross-lagged structural equation panel models were estimated.•Young adults show very stable behaviour over time regarding mode use and mode preference.•Changes in frequency of mode use have a stronger effect on mode preference than vice versa.•Young adults subjected to life events are more likely to change travel behaviour.