Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

We propose a dualistic framework embodied by interconnected hedonic and eudaimonic approaches that reveals the long-term benefits of tourism on well-being. We adopt a transformative tourism perspective to propose the eudaimonic approach and draw on spill over theory to identify the hedonic approach. The two approaches to post-trip well-being promotion were examined using time-lagged data collected via three survey waves from 208 Chinese tourists. The results indicate that, eudaimonically, the meaning in life experienced in tourism triggers authentic living after returning home, while hedonically, positive emotions during the trip foster post-travel satisfaction with tourism, both of which facilitate long-term well-being. This study not only contributes to tourism and well-being literature by establishing novel paths through which tourism can fulfill its underestimated potential for sustained well-being benefits, but also adds to diverse alternative fields pertaining to existential authenticity, spill over theory, and transformative tourism.

Keywords

meaning in life positive emotions existential authenticity transformation well-being

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Allison

P. D.

(2003). Missing data techniques for structural equation modelling. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112(4), 545–557. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.112.4.545

Bastos

Brucks

(2017). How and why conversational value leads to happiness for experiential and material purchases. Journal of Consumer Research, 44(3), 598–612. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucx054

Bono

J. E.

Glomb

T. M.

Shen

Kim

Koch

A. J.

(2013). Building positive resources: Effects of positive events and positive reflection on work stress and health. Academy of Management Journal, 56(6), 1601–1627. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2011.0272

Brickman

(1971). Hedonic relativism and planning the good society. In Appley

M. H.

(Ed.), Adaptation level theory (pp. 287–301). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-064850-4.50018-5

Brooks

Soulard

(2022). Contested authentication: The impact of event cancellation on transformative experiences, existential authenticity at burning man. Annals of Tourism Research, 95, Article 103412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2022.103412

Brown

(2013). Tourism: A catalyst for existential authenticity. Annals of Tourism Research, 40, 176–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2012.08.004

Burch

W. R.

Jr. (1969). The social circles of leisure: Competing explanations. Journal of Leisure Research, 1(2), 125–147. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.1969.11969720

Chen

(2013). Happiness and authenticity: Confucianism and Heidegger. Journal of Philosophical Research, 38, 261–274. http://doi.org/10.5840/jpr20133813

Chen

Lehto

X. Y.

Cai

(2013). Vacation and well-being: A study of Chinese tourists. Annals of Tourism Research, 42, 284–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ANNALS.2013.02.003

10.

Cinar

Toksoz

Cakici

A. C.

(2023). Meaning in life and the quest for authenticity in touristic experiences among Turkish tourists. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 6(5), 1709–1729. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-01-2022-0033

11.

Coghlan

Weiler

(2018). Examining transformative processes in volunteer tourism. Current Issues in Tourism, 21(5), 567–582. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2015.1102209

12.

Demeter

MacInnes

Dolnicar

(2023). Defining and operationalizing eight forms of eudaimonia and hedonia and assessing tourism-specific context-dependency. Journal of Travel Research, 62(7), 1448–1459. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875221133042

13.

Diener

Emmons

R. A.

Larsen

R. J.

Griffin

(1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71–75. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13

14.

Diener

Wirtz

Tov

Kim-Prieto

Choi

D.-w.

Oishi

Biswas-Diener

(2010). New well-being measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 97(2), 143–156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9493-y

15.

Faullant

Matzler

Mooradian

T. A.

(2011). Personality, basic emotions, and satisfaction: Primary emotions in the mountaineering experience. Tourism Management, 32(6), 1423–1430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2011.01.004

16.

Filep

(2016). Tourism and positive psychology critique: Too emotional? Annals of Tourism Research, 59, 113–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2016.04.004

17.

Forgeard

M. J.

Jayawickreme

Kern

M. L.

Seligman

M. E.

(2011). Doing the right thing: Measuring wellbeing for public policy. International Journal of Wellbeing, 1(1), 79–106. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v1i1.15

18.

Fornell

Larcker

D. F.

(1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312

19.

Freidus

Caro

(2021). Mobilizing affect in the search for self-transformation: A case study of volunteer transformation in orphanage tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 86, Article 103084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2021.103084

20.

Liu

Wang

(2022). Creating a balanced family travel experience: A perspective from the motivation-activities-transformative learning chain. Tourism Management Perspectives, 41, Article 100941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2022.100941

21.

Gable

S. L.

Reis

H. T.

Impett

E. A.

Asher

E. R.

(2004). What do you do when things go right? The intrapersonal and interpersonal benefits of sharing positive events. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87(2), 228–245. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.87.2.228

22.

Gao

Havitz

M. E.

Potwarka

L. R.

(2020). Exploring the influence of family holiday travel on the subjective well-being of Chinese adolescents. Journal of China Tourism Research, 16(1), 45–61. https://doi.org/10.1080/19388160.2019.1703891

23.

George

Mallery

(2016). IBM SPSS statistics 23 step by step: A simple guide and Reference. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315545899

24.

Gilbert

Abdullah

(2004). Holidaytaking and the sense of well-being. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(1), 103–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2003.06.001

25.

Graburn

N. H.

(1983). The anthropology of tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 10(1), 9–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(83)90113-8

26.

Hair

J. F.

Jr. Black

W. C.

Babin

B. J.

Anderson

R. E.

(2010). Multivariate data analysis. Prentice Hall. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmva.2009.12.014

27.

Swanson

S. R.

(2020). The service quality to subjective well-being of Chinese tourists connection: A model with replications. Current Issues in Tourism, 23(16), 2076-2092. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2020.1755240

28.

Haybron

D. M.

(2008). Happiness, the self and human flourishing. Utilitas, 20(1), 21–49. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0953820807002778

29.

Heidegger

(1962). Being and time. Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.2307/2104649

30.

Heintzman

(2009). The spiritual benefits of leisure. Leisure/Loisir, 33(1), 419–445. https://doi.org/10.1080/14927713.2009.9651438

31.

Huang

Wang

(2023). Well-being through transformation: An integrative framework of transformative tourism experiences and hedonic versus eudaimonic well-being. Journal of Travel Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287523117167

32.

Kah

J. A.

Lee

C. K.

Lee

S. H.

(2016). Spatial–temporal distances in travel intention–behavior. Annals of Tourism Research, 57, 160–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.11.023

33.

Kawakubo

Oguchi

(2022). Looking back on your travel memories: Effects of memorable tourism experiences on well-being via daily recovery experiences. Tourism Analysis, 27(1), 13–27. https://doi.org/10.3727/108354222X16106461321167

34.

Kelly

(2022). Beyond a trip to the seaside?: Emotional connections, family tourism and psycho-social wellbeing. Tourism Geographies, 24(2–3), 284–305. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2021.1893189

35.

Keyes

C. L. M.

Shmotkin

Ryff

C. D.

(2002). Optimizing well-being: The empirical encounter of two traditions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(6), 1007–1022. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.82.6.1007

36.

Kim

Fesenmaier

D. R.

(2017). Sharing tourism experiences: The posttrip experience. Journal of Travel Research, 56(1), 28–40. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287515621118

37.

Kim

Jamal

(2007). Touristic quest for existential authenticity. Annals of Tourism Research, 34(1), 181–201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2006.07.009

38.

King

L. A.

Hicks

J. A.

Krull

J. L.

Del Gaiso

A. K.

(2006). Positive affect and the experience of meaning in life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(1), 179–196. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.90.1.179

39.

Kirillova

Lehto

(2015). An existential conceptualization of the vacation cycle. Annals of Tourism Research, 55, 110–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.09.001

40.

Kirillova

Lehto

Cai

(2017a). Tourism and existential transformation: An empirical investigation. Journal of Travel Research, 56(5), 638–650. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287516650277

41.

Kirillova

Lehto

X. Y.

Cai

(2017b). Existential authenticity and anxiety as outcomes: The tourist in the experience economy. International Journal of Tourism Research, 19(1), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287516640841

42.

Knobloch

Robertson

Aitken

(2017). Experience, emotion, and eudaimonia: A consideration of tourist experiences and well-being. Journal of Travel Research, 56(5), 651–662. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287516650937

43.

Kraut

(2018). Aristotle’s ethics. In Zalta

E. N.

(Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (Summer 2018 ed.). Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University. https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2018/entries/aristotle-ethics/

44.

Kwon

Lee

(2020). Why travel prolongs happiness: Longitudinal analysis using a latent growth model. Tourism Management, 76, Article 103944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2019.103944

45.

Langston

C. A.

(1994). Capitalizing on and coping with daily-life events: Expressive responses to positive events. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(6), 1112–1125. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.67.6.1112

46.

Lengieza

M. L.

Hunt

C. A.

Swim

J. K.

(2019). Measuring eudaimonic travel experiences. Annals of Tourism Research, 74, 195–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2018.12.006

47.

Lyubomirsky

Sousa

Dickerhoof

(2006). The costs and benefits of writing, talking, and thinking about life’s triumphs and defeats. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 90(4), 692–708. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.90.4.692

48.

Maoz

(2006). Erikson on the tour. Tourism Recreation Research, 31(3), 55–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2006.11081484

49.

McCabe

Johnson

(2013). The happiness factor in tourism: Subjective well-being and social tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 41, 42–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2012.12.001

50.

McCabe

Joldersma

(2010). Understanding the benefits of social tourism: Linking participation to subjective well-being and quality of life. International Journal of Tourism Research, 12(6), 761–773. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.774

51.

Mezirow

(1991). Transformative dimensions of adult learning. Jossey-Bass. https://doi.org/10.1177/074171369204200307

52.

Morgan

Pritchard

Sedgley

(2015). Social tourism and well-being in later life. Annals of Tourism Research, 52, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.02.018

53.

Moufahim

Lichrou

(2019). Pilgrimage, consumption and rituals: Spiritual authenticity in a Shia Muslim pilgrimage. Tourism Management, 70, 322–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.08.021

54.

Nawijn

(2011). Happiness through vacationing: Just a temporary boost or long-term benefits? Journal of Happiness Studies, 12, 651–665. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-010-9221-y

55.

Nawijn

Filep

(2016). Two directions for future tourist well-being research. Annals of Tourism Research, 61, 221–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2016.10.010

56.

Neal

J. D.

Sirgy

M. J.

Uysal

(1999). The role of satisfaction with leisure travel/tourism services and experience in satisfaction with leisure life and overall life. Journal of Business Research, 44(3), 153–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0148-2963(97)00197-5

57.

Nilsson

Tesfahuney

(2016). Performing the “post-secular” in Santiago de Compostela. Annals of Tourism Research, 57, 18–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2015.11.011

58.

Pearce

P. L.

Packer

(2013). Minds on the move: New links from psychology to tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 40, 386–411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2012.10.002

59.

Podsakoff

P. M.

MacKenzie

S. B.

Lee

J. Y.

Podsakoff

N. P.

(2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879–903. https://doi.org/10.1037/00219010.88.5.879

60.

Pourfakhimi

Nadim

Prayag

Mulcahy

(2021). The influence of neophobia and enduring food involvement on travelers’ perceptions of wellbeing—Evidence from international visitors to Iran. International Journal of Tourism Research, 23(2), 178–191. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2434

61.

Pritchard

Morgan

Ateljevic

(2011). Hopeful tourism: A new transformative perspective. Annals of Tourism Research, 38(3), 941–963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2011.01.004

62.

Pung

J. M.

Gnoth

Del Chiappa

(2020). Tourist transformation: Towards a conceptual model. Annals of Tourism Research, 81, Article 102885. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.102885

63.

Pung

J. M.

Yung

Khoo-Lattimore

Del Chiappa

(2020). Transformative travel experiences and gender: A double duoethnography approach. Current Issues in Tourism, 23(5), 538–558. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2019.1588230

64.

Robledo

M. A.

Batle

(2017). Transformational tourism as a hero’s journey. Current Issues in Tourism, 20(16), 1736–1748. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2015.1076771

65.

Rogers

(1961). On becoming a person: A therapist’s view of psychotherapy. Constable. https://doi.org/10.1037/10793-000

66.

Ryan

R. M.

Deci

E. L.

(2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 141–166. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141

67.

Sartre

J.-P.

(1969). Being and nothingness. Methuen. https://doi.org/10.2307/2104649

68.

Scarinci

Pearce

(2012). The perceived influence of travel experiences on learning generic skills. Tourism Management, 33(2), 380–386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2011.04.007

69.

Schafer

J. L.

Graham

J. W.

(2002). Missing data: Our view of the state of the art. Psychological Methods, 7(2), 147–177. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.7.2.147

70.

Sheldon

P. J.

(2020). Designing tourism experiences for inner transformation. Annals of Tourism Research, 83, Article 102935. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.102935

71.

Smith

M. K.

Diekmann

(2017). Tourism and wellbeing. Annals of Tourism Research, 66, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2017.05.006

72.

Soulard

McGehee

Knollenberg

(2021). Developing and testing the transformative travel experience scale (TTES). Journal of Travel Research, 60(5), 923–946. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520925050

73.

Soulard

McGehee

N. G.

Stern

M. J.

Lamoureux

K. M.

(2021). Transformative tourism: Tourists’ drawings, symbols, and narratives of change. Annals of Tourism Research, 87, Article 103141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.103141

74.

Steger

M. F.

Frazier

Oishi

Kaler

(2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80

75.

Steiner

C. J.

Reisinger

(2006). Understanding existential authenticity. Annals of Tourism Research, 33(2), 299–318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2005.08.002

76.

Sthapit

(2019). Memories of gastronomic experiences, savoured positive emotions and savouring processes. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 19(2), 115–139. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2018.1441149

77.

Pan

Wen

Phau

(2023). Effects of tourism experiences on tourists’ subjective well-being through recollection and storytelling. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 29(4), 479–497. https://doi.org/10.1177/13567667221101414

78.

Swanson

S. R.

Chen

(2016). The effects of perceived service quality on repurchase intentions and subjective well-being of Chinese tourists: The mediating role of relationship quality. Tourism Management, 52, 82–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2015.06.011

79.

Tang

Nawijn

(2020). Eudaimonic and hedonic well-being pattern changes: Intensity and activity. Annals of Tourism Research, 84, Article 103008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.103008

80.

Tasci

A. D.

Godovykh

(2021). An empirical modeling of transformation process through trip experiences. Tourism Management, 86, Article 104332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104332

81.

Teoh

M. W.

Wang

Kwek

(2021). Conceptualising co-created transformative tourism experiences: A systematic narrative review. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 47, 176–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.12.006

82.

Urry

(2002). The tourist gaze (2nd ed.). Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446251904

83.

Uysal

Sirgy

M. J.

(2019). Quality-of-life indicators as performance measures. Annals of Tourism Research, 76, 291–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2019.04.005

84.

Vada

Prentice

Scott

Hsiao

(2020). Positive psychology and tourist well-being: A systematic literature review. Tourism Management Perspectives, 33, Article 100631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2019.100631

85.

Vainio

M. M.

Daukantaitė

(2016). Grit and different aspects of well-being: Direct and indirect relationships via sense of coherence and authenticity. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(5), 2119–2147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-015-9688-7

86.

Verduyn

Van Mechelen

Tuerlinckx

(2011). The relation between event processing and the duration of emotional experience. Emotion, 11(1), 20–28. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021239

87.

Wei

Milman

(2002). The impact of participation in activities while on vacation on seniors’ psychological well-being: A path model application. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 26(2), 175–185. https://doi.org/10.1177/1096348002026002004

88.

Wood

A. M.

Linley

P. A.

Maltby

Baliousis

Joseph

(2008). The authentic personality: A theoretical and empirical conceptualization and the development of the Authenticity Scale. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 55(3), 385–399. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.55.3.385

89.

Yang

(2022). Lifestyle skiing contributes to health and eudaimonic well-being: an emergent Chinese lifestyle mobility. Tourism Geographies, 24(6–7), 1134–1152. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2021.1914110

90.

Xue

Manuel-Navarrete

Buzinde

C. N.

(2014). Theorizing the concept of alienation in tourism studies. Annals of Tourism Research, 44, 186–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2013.09.007

91.

Yang

Zhang

Wang

Y. C.

(2023). Would travel experiences or possessions make people happier? Journal of Travel Research, 62(2), 412–431. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287523116498

92.

Lin

V. S.

Xiao

(2022). Integrating authenticity, well-being, and memorability in heritage tourism: A two-site investigation. Journal of Travel Research, 61(2), 378–393. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875211012536

93.

Xiao

(2020). Are authentic tourists happier? Examining structural relationships amongst perceived cultural distance, existential authenticity, and wellbeing. International Journal of Tourism Research, 22(1), 144–154. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2320

94.

Liu

(2023). Changes in authenticity and alienation following a holiday. Journal of Travel Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287523116497

95.

Smale

Xiao

(2021). Examining the change in wellbeing following a holiday. Tourism Management, 87, Article 104367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104367

96.

Zins

A. H.

Ponocny

(2022). On the importance of leisure travel for psychosocial wellbeing. Annals of Tourism Research, 93, Article 103378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2021.103378

Supplementary Material

Please find the following supplemental material available below.

For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.

For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.

0.00 MB

0.02 MB

Dual Approaches of Tourism’s Impact on Post-Trip Well-Being

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References

Supplementary Material