The Mediating Role of Meaning in Life in The Relationship Between Memorable Tourism Experiences and Subjective Well-Being

Year 2020, , 314 - 337, 25.12.2020

Duygu Aydın , Ece Ömüriş

https://doi.org/10.30519/ahtr.656469

Cited By: 7

Abstract

Due to varying tourist motivations and needs, involvement in new experiences has different individual consequences. This paper examines the predictive relationship between memorable tourism experience (MTE), meaning in life (MIL) and subjective well-being (SWB). It further investigates whether meaning in life mediates memorable tourism experience’s influence on subjective well-being. The study design was cross-sectional, with data collected from 283 tourists visiting Cappadocia, Turkey. Although all variables were positively correlated, SEM analyses revealed that meaning in life mediated the association of memorable tourism experience with life satisfaction but not positive affect. These findings are discussed considering the role of meaning in life in the link between dimensions of MTE and SWB.

Keywords

memorable tourism experience, subjective well-being, meaning in life

References

• Andrew, F. M., & Withey, S. B. (1976). Social indicators of well-being. New York and London: Plenum, 20(31), 696-717.
• Arnould, E. J., & Price, L. L. (1993). River magic: Extraordinary experience and the extended service encounter. Journal of Consumer Research, 20(1), 24-45.
• Ballantyne, R., Packer, J., & Sutherland, L. A. (2011). Visitors’ memories of wildlife tourism: Implications for the design of powerful interpretive experiences. Tourism Management, 32(4), 770-7.
• Berlyne, D. E. (1950). Novelty and curiosity as determinants of exploratory behaviour. British Journal of Psychology, 41(1), 68.
• Boswijk, A., Thijssen, T., Peelen, E., & Johnston, T. S. B. (2007). The experience economy: A new perspective. Amsterdam: Pearson Education
• Brewer, W. F. (1988). Memory for randomly sampled autobiographical events. In U. Neisser & E. Winograd (Eds.), Remembering reconsidered: Ecological and traditional approaches to the study of memory (pp. 21-90). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
• Campbell, A. (1976). Subjective measures of well-being. American Psychologist, 31(2), 117.
• Cary, S. H. (2004). The tourist moment. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(1), 61-77.
• Chandralal, L., Rindfleish, J., & Valenzuela, F. (2015). An application of travel blog narratives to explore memorable tourism experiences. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 20(6), 680-693.
• Chandralal, L., & Valenzuela, F. R. (2013). Exploring memorable tourism experiences: Antecedents and behavioural outcomes. Journal of Economics, Business and Management, 1(2), 177-181.
• Chen, C. C., Petrick, J. F., & Shahvali, M. (2016). Tourism experiences as a stress reliever: Examining the effects of tourism recovery experiences on life satisfaction. Journal of Travel Research, 55(2), 150-160.
• Chen, H., & Rahman, I. (2018). Cultural tourism: An analysis of engagement, cultural contact, memorable tourism experience and destination loyalty. Tourism Management Perspectives, 26, 153-163.
• Cheng, T., & Lu, C. (2013). Destination image, novelty, hedonics, perceived value, and revisiting behavioral intention for island tourism. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 18(7),766–783.
• Cohen, E. (1979). A phenomenology of tourist experiences. Sociology, 13, 179–201.
• Cornelisse, M. (2014). Memorable tourist experiences in authentic Vicos, Peru. Journal of Tourism Consumption and Practice, 6(1), 104–127.
• Coudounaris, D. N., & Sthapit, E. (2017). Antecedents of memorable tourism experience related to behavioral intentions. Psychology & Marketing, 34(12), 1084-1093.
• Crompton, J. L. (1979). Motivations for pleasure vacation. Annals of Tourism Research, 6(4), 408-424.
• Dagustani, D., Kartini, D., Oesman, Y. M., & Kaltum, U. (2018). Destination image of tourist: Effect of travel motivation and memorable tourism experience. Etikonomi, 17(2), 307-318.
• de Freitas Coelho, M., de Sevilha Gosling, M., & de Almeida, A. S. A. (2018). Tourism experiences: Core processes of memorable trips. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 37, 11-22.
• Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95(3), 542.
• Diener, E. (2009). The science of well-being: The collected works of Ed Diener. New York: Springer.
• Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125(2), 276.
• Dolnicar, S., Yanamandram, V., & Cliff, K. (2012). The contribution of vacations to quality of life. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(1), 59-83.
• Dursun, P. (2012). The role of meaning in life, optimism, hope, and coping styles in subjective well-being. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Middle East Technical University, Ankara.
• Erdogan, N., & Tosun, C. (2009). Environmental performance of tourism accommodations in the protected areas: Case of Göreme Historical National Park. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 28(3), 406-414.
• Filep, S. (2012). Positive psychology and tourism. In M. Uysal, R. Perdue, & M. Sirgy (eds), Handbook of tourism and quality-of-life research (pp. 31-50). Springer, Dordrecht.
• Filep, S., & Higham, J. (2014). Chasing well-being: New directions for appraising tourist experiences. In T. DeLacy, M. Jiang, G. Lipman, & S. Vorster (eds), Green growth and travelism: Concept, Policy and Practice for Sustainable Tourism (pp. 112-125). London: Routledge.
• Frank, R. H. (1985). Choosing the right pond: Human behavior and the quest for status. Oxford University Press.
• Gençöz, T. (2000). Pozitif ve negatif duygu ölçeği: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 15(46), 19-26.
• Gilbert, D., & Abdullah, J. (2004). Holiday taking and the sense of well-being. Annals of Tourism Research, 103-121.
• Handler, R., & Saxton, W. (1988). Dyssimulation: reflexivity, narrative, and the quest for authenticity in "living history". Cultural Anthropology, 3(3), 242-260.
• Hinkin, T.R. (1998). A brief tutorial on development of measures for use in survey questionnaires. Organizational Research Methods, 1(1), 104-121.
• Huang, S., & van der Veen, R. (2019). The moderation of gender and generation in the effects of perceived destination image on tourist attitude and visit intention: A study of potential Chinese visitors to Australia. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 25(3), 375-389.
• Iso-Ahola, S. E. (1982). Toward a social psychological theory of tourism motivation: A rejoinder. Annals of Tourism Research, 256-262.
• Jöreskog, K. G., & Sörbom, D. (1993). LISREL: Structural equation modeling with SIMPLIS command language. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum and Scientific Software International.
• Keller, K. L. (2003). Brand synthesis: The multidimensionality of brand knowledge. Journal of Consumer Research, 29(4), 595–600.
• Kim, J. H. (2010). Determining the factors affecting the memorable nature of travel experiences. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 27(8), 780-796.
• Kim, J. H. (2013). A cross-cultural comparison of memorable tourism experiences of American and Taiwanese college students. Anatolia, 24(3), 337-351.
• Kim, J. H. (2018). The impact of memorable tourism experiences on loyalty behaviors: The mediating effects of destination image and satisfaction. Journal of Travel Research, 57(7), 856-870.
• Kim, J., & Hatfield, E. (2004). Love types and subjective well-being: A cross-cultural study. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 32(2), 173-182.
• Kim, J. H., & Ritchie, J. B. (2014). Cross-cultural validation of a memorable tourism experience scale (MTES). Journal of Travel Research, 53(3), 323-335.
• Kim, J-H., Ritchie, J. R. B., & McCormick, B. (2012). Development of a scale to measure Memorable Tourism Experiences. Journal of Travel Research, 51(12), 12-25.
• Kim, J.-H., Ritchie, J. R. B., & Vincent, V. W. S. (2010). The effect of memorable experience on behavioral intentions in tourism: A structural equation modeling approach. Tourism Analysis, 637-648.
• Kline, R. B. (2005). Principal and practice of structural equation modeling. New York: The Guilford Publication.
• Knobloch, U., Robertson, K., & Aitken, R. (2017). Experience, emotion, and eudaimonia: A consideration of tourist experiences and well-being. Journal of Travel Research, 56(5), 651- 662.
• Köker, S. (1991). Comparing the level of the life satisfaction of the normal adolescents and adolescents with problems. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Ankara University, Ankara.
• Larsen, S. (2007). Aspects of a psychology of the tourist experience. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 7(1), 7-18.
• Lean, G. L. (2012). Transformative travel: A mobilities perspective. Tourist Studies, 12(2), 151-172.
• Lee, T. H., & Crompton, J. (1992). Measuring novelty seeking in tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 19(4),732-751.
• Loureiro, S. M. C., Breazeale, M., & Radic, A. (2019). Happiness with rural experience: Exploring the role of tourist mindfulness as a moderator. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 25(3), 279-300.
• Manfredo, M. J. (1989). An investigation of the basis for external information search in recreation and tourism. Leisure Sciences, 11(1), 29.
• Maslow, A. H. (1943). Preface to motivation theory. Psychosomatic medicine, 5, 85–92.
• McConkey, R., & Adams, L. (2000). Matching short break services for children with learning disabilities to family needs and preferences. Child Care, Health and Development, 26(5), 429–444.
• Nawijn, J. (2011). Determinants of daily happiness on vacation. Journal of Travel Research, 50(5), 559-566.
• Neal, J. D., Sirgy, M. J., & Uysal, M. (2004). Measuring the effect of tourism services on travelers’ quality of life: Further validation. Social Indicators Research, 69(3), 243-277.
• Novelli, M., & Robinson, M. (2005). Niche Tourism: an introduction. In M. Novelli (Ed.), Niche Tourism: Contemporary issues, trends and cases (pp. 1-14). Oxford: Elsevier.
• Noy, C. (2004). Israeli backpackers: Narrative, interpersonal communication, and social construction. In C. Noy & E. Cohen (Eds.), Israeli backpackers and their society: A view from afar (pp. 111-158). New York: University of New York Press.
• Ooi, C.-S. (2005). A theory of tourism experiences: The management of attention. In T. O'Dell & P. Billing (Eds.), Experience scopes (pp. 51–68). Denmark: Copenhagen Business School Press.
• Ortony, A., & Turner, T. J. (1990). What's basic about basic emotions?. Psychological Review, 97(3), 315.
• Otto, J. E., & Ritchie, J. B. (1996). The service experience in tourism. Tourism Management, 17(3), 165-174.
• Pearce, D. G. (1987). Tourism Today: A Geographical Analysis. Harlow: Longman.
• Pine, B. J. P., & Gilmore, J. H. (2011). The experience economy. Boston: Harvard Business Review Press.
• Podsakoff, P., MacKenzie, S., Lee, J., & Podsakoff, N. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879-903.
• Prayag, G., Hosany, S., Muskat, B., & Del Chiappa, G. (2017). Understanding the relationships between tourists’ emotional experiences, perceived overall image, satisfaction, and intention to recommend. Journal of Travel Research, 56(1), 41-54.
• 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.
• Sharma, P., & Nayak, J. K. (2019). Understanding memorable tourism experiences as the determinants of tourists' behaviour. International Journal of Tourism Research, 21(4), 504-518.
• Sharpley, R., & Jepson, D. (2011). Rural tourism: A spiritual experience?. Annals of Tourism Research, 38(1), 52-71.
• Shrout, P., & Bolger, N. (2002). Mediation in experimental and nonexperimental studies: New procedures and recommendations. Psychological Methods, 7, 422–445.
• Sirgy, M. J., Rahtz, D. R., Cicic, M., & Underwood, R. (2000). A method for assessing residents' satisfaction with community-based services: a quality of life perspective. Social Indicators Research, 49(3), 279-316.
• Slåtten, T., Krogh, C., & Connolley, S. (2011). Make it memorable: customer experiences in winter amusement parks. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 5(1), 80-91.
• Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80-93.
• Steiner, C. J., & Reisinger, Y. (2006). Understanding existential authenticity. Annals of Tourism Research, 33(2), 299-318.
• Sthapit, E. (2018). A netnographic examination of tourists’ memorable hotel experiences. Anatolia, 29(1), 108-128.
• Sthapit, E., & Coudounaris, D. N. (2018). Memorable tourism experiences: Antecedents and outcomes. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 18(1), 72-9.
• Tsai, C. T. (2016). Memorable tourist experiences and place attachment when consuming local food. International Journal of Tourism Research, 18(6), 536-548.
• Tukamushaba, E. K., Xiao, H., & Ladkin, A. (2016). The effect of tourists’ perceptions of a tourism product on memorable travel experience: Implications for destination branding. European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, 7(1), 2-12.
• Tung, V. W. S., & Ritchie, J. B. (2011a). Exploring the essence of memorable tourism experiences. Annals of Tourism Research, 38(4), 1367-1386.
• Tung, V. W. S., & Ritchie, J. B. (2011b). Investigating the memorable experiences of the senior travel market: An examination of the reminiscence bump. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 28(3),331-343.
• Turner, L., & Ash, J. (1975). The golden hordes: International tourism and the pleasure periphery. London: Constable and Company, Ltd.
• Uriely, N. (2005). The tourist experience: conceptual developments. Annals of Tourism Research, 32(1), 199–216.
• Uriely, N., Schwartz, Z., Cohen, E., & Reichel, A. (2002). Rescuing hikers in Israel's deserts: Community altruism or an extension of adventure tourism?. Journal of Leisure Research, 34(1), 25-36.
• Uzzell, D. (1998). Interpreting our heritage: a theoretical interpretation. In D. Uzzell & R. Ballantyne (Eds.), Contemporary issues in heritage and environmental interpretation (pp. 11-25). London: The Stationary Office.
• Vada, S., Prentice, C., & Hsiao, A. (2019). The influence of tourism experience and well-being on place attachment. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 47, 322-330.
• Wang, N. (1999). Rethinking authenticity in tourism experience. Annals of Tourism Research, 26(2), 349-370.
• Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6), 1063.
• Westbrook, R. A., & Oliver, R. L. (1991). The dimensionality of consumption emotion patterns and consumer satisfaction. Journal of consumer research, 18(1), 84-91.
• Wilson, E., & Harris, C. (2006). Meaningful travel: Women, independent travel and the search for self and meaning. Tourism, 54, 161-172.
• Yolal, M., & Karacaoglu, S. (2017). An evaluation of tourism potential and sustainability in Cappadocia, Turkey. 5th UNESCO Unitwin Conference on Local Identity and Tourism Management on World Heritage Sites, Coimbra, Portugal, 18-22 April, 2017.
• Zhang, H., Wu, Y., & Buhalis, D. (2018). A model of perceived image, memorable tourism experiences and revisit intention. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 8, 326-336.
• Zhong, Y. Y. S., Busser, J., & Baloglu, S. (2017). A model of memorable tourism experience: The effects on satisfaction, affective commitment, and storytelling. Tourism Analysis, 22(2), 201-217.