Examining the Relationship between Subjective Vitality as a Personality Trait, Experience Quality, and Environmental Stewardship of Tourists Visiting Atatürk Arboretum

Year 2022, , 277 - 305, 01.06.2022

Mustafa C. Altunel , Murat Yalçın

https://doi.org/10.30519/ahtr.941911

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Subjective vitality is usually discussed theoretically in a business context but it has important practical implications as well. This study examines subjective vitality as a trait and personal resource, in the context of outdoor recreation and garden tourism. Visitors of Atatürk Arboretum, Istanbul were surveyed, and a model was proposed and tested to examine the relationship between subjective vitality and experience quality based on conservation of resources theory and environmental stewardship (attitudinal stewardship and behavioral intentions). The results confirm that subjective vitality has a significant and positive effect on experience quality. Further, experience quality has a significant and positive effect on attitudinal stewardship, which, in turn, has the same effect on behavioral intentions. This implies that, after having a good experience, a visitor may feel more connected to the park, more willing to help, and more inclined to revisit and advocate.

Keywords

subjective vitality, personality trait, conservation of resources theory, experience quality

References

• Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
• Allen, T. D., & Kiburz, K. M. (2012). Trait mindfulness and work–family balance among working parents: The mediating effects of vitality and sleep quality. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80(2), 372-379.
• Altunel, M. C., Çakır, O., & Akova, O. (2017). The Relationships Between Social Support by the Colleagues, Work-Holiday Interference, Recovery Experience and Holiday Satisfaction. In R. Efe, R. Penkova… & J. G. Berdenov (Eds.), Developments in Social Sciences (pp. 595-612). Sofia: St. Kliment Ohridski University Press.
• Altunel, M. C., & Koçak, Ö. E. (2017). The roles of subjective vitality, involvement, experience quality, and satisfaction in tourists' behavioral intentions. European Journal of Tourism Research, 16, 233.
• Anderson, J. C., & Gerbing, D. W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103(3), 411.
• Cambridge Dictionary (n.d.). Arboretum. Retrieved January 20, 2021, from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/arboretum
• Arkes, H. R., Herren, L. T., & Isen, A. M. (1988). The role of potential loss in the influence of affect on risk-taking behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 42(2), 181-193.
• Atwood, M. (2010). Oryx and Crake (Vol. 1). Toronto: Knopf Canada.
• Bagozzi, R. P., & Yi, Y. (1988). On the evaluation of structural equation models. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 16(1), 74-94.
• Balaguer, I., Castillo, I., Cuevas, R., & Atienza, F. (2018). The importance of coaches’ autonomy support in the leisure experience and well-being of young footballers. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 840.
• BGCI, (2020). Garden Search Database. Retrieved December 23, 2021, from https://www.bgci.org/about/about-botanic-garden/.
• Benfield, R. (2013). Garden Tourism. Wallingford: CABI.
• Biddle, S. J., & Mutrie, N. (2007). Psychology of physical activity: Determinants, well-being and interventions. Abingdon, UK: Routledge.
• Binkhorst, E. (2007). Creativity in tourism experiences: The case of Sitges. In G. Richards & J. Wilson (Eds.), Tourism, Creativity and Development (pp. 147-166). Abingdon: Routledge.
• Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2004). Perils and promise in defining and measuring mindfulness: Observations from experience. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11(3), 242-248.
• Čakovská, B. (2018). Garden tourism: Reasons for opening private gardens in the UK National Garden Scheme. Current Issues in Tourism, 21(12), 1344-1348.
• Carmeli, A., Ben-Hador, B., Waldman, D. A., & Rupp, D. E. (2009). How leaders cultivate social capital and nurture employee vigor: Implications for job performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(6), 1553.
• Chang, L. C., & Kao, I. C. (2019). Enhancing social support and subjective vitality among older adults through leisure education. International Psychogeriatrics, 31(12), 1839-1840.
• Chang, T. Y., & Horng, S. C. (2010). Conceptualizing and measuring experience quality: The customer's perspective. The Service Industries Journal, 30(14), 2401-2419.
• Chen, G., & Sun, W. (2018). The role of botanical gardens in scientific research, conservation, and citizen science. Plant Divers. 40(4), 181–188.
• Connell, J. (2002). A critical analysis of gardens as a resource for tourism and recreation in the UK. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom.
• Connell, J. (2004). The purest of human pleasures: The characteristics and motivations of garden visitors in Great Britain. Tourism Management, 25(2), 229-247.
• Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. New York: Harper & Row.
• Çelik, E. (2017). Examining the mediating effect of subjective vitality in the proactive personality and life satisfaction relationship. International Journal of Happiness and Development, 3(4), 289-302.
• Davis, F. D., Bagozzi, R. P., & Warshaw, P. R. (1992). Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation to use computers in the workplace 1. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 22(14), 1111-1132.
• Deen, L., Dich, N., Head, J., & Clark, A. J. (2020). Changes in emotional vitality as a predictor of levels and change in allostatic load: Longitudinal results From the Whitehall II cohort study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 82(4), 432-439.
• DeVries, M. W., & Sameroff, A. J. (1984). Culture and temperament: influences on infant temperament in three East African societies. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 54(1), 83.
• Dopko, R. L., Capaldi, C. A., & Zelenski, J. M. (2019). The psychological and social benefits of a nature experience for children: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 63, 134-138.
• Dresner, M., Handelman, C., Braun, S., & Rollwagen-Bollens, G. (2015). Environmental identity, pro-environmental behaviors, and civic engagement of volunteer stewards in Portland area parks. Environmental Education Research, 21(7), 991-1010.
• Dubreuil, P., Forest, J., & Courcy, F. (2014). From strengths use to work performance: The role of harmonious passion, subjective vitality, and concentration. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(4), 335-349.
• Erdoğan, B., Bauer, T. N., Truxillo, D. M., & Mansfield, L. R. (2012). Whistle while you work: A review of the life satisfaction literature. Journal of management, 38(4), 1038-1083.
• Falk, R. F., & Miller, N. B. (1992). A primer for soft modeling. Akron, OH: University of Akron Press.
• Falkner, R., & Buzan, B. (2019). The emergence of environmental stewardship as a primary institution of global international society. European Journal of International Relations, 25(1), 131-155.
• Ferreira, S. (2012). Moulding urban children towards environmental stewardship: The Table Mountain National Park experience. Environmental Education Research, 18(2), 251-270.
• Fick, G. R., & Ritchie, J. R. B. (1991). Measuring service quality in the travel and tourism industry. Journal of Travel Research, 30(2), 2-9.
• Fini, A. A. S., Kavousian, J., Beigy, A., & Emami, M. (2010). Subjective vitality and its anticipating variables on students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 5, 150-156.
• Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50.
• Freud, S. (1962). The Ego and the d. New York: Norton.
• Atatürk Arberotum (n.d.). Genel Bilgiler. Retrieved January 15, 2021 from https://ataturkarboretumu.ogm.gov.tr/tr/sayfa/genel-bilgiler
• Gentile, C., Spiller, N., & Noci, G. (2007). How to sustain the customer experience: An overview of experience components that co-create value with the customer. European Management Journal, 25(5), 395-410.
• Department of Conservation of the New Zealand Government (n.d.). Get Involved. Retrieved February 08, 2021 from https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/
• Gonda, X., Vázquez, G. H., Akiskal, K. K., & Akiskal, H. S. (2011). From putative genes to temperament and culture: cultural characteristics of the distribution of dominant affective temperaments in national studies. Journal of Affective Disorders, 131(1-3), 45-51.
• Hair, J. F.; Black, W. C., Babin, J. B., Anderson, R. E., & Tatham, R. L. (2006). Multivariate data analysis. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc.
• Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Babin, B. J., & Black, W. C. (2010). Multivariate data analysis: A global perspective (Vol. 7). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
• Halliwell, P. M. (2019). National Park citizen science participation: exploring place attachment and stewardship. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom.
• Hancock, P. (2007). Assessing an Individual’s Sense of Stewardship and the Successful Characteristics of Volunteer Stewardship Groups. Unpublished master of science thesis, Northern Arizona University, USA.
• Harman, H. H. (1976). Modern factor analysis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
• Headey, B., & Wearing, A. (1989). Personality, life events, and subjective well-being: toward a dynamic equilibrium model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(4), 731.
• Hertzog, C., Kramer, A. F., Wilson, R. S., & Lindenberger, U. (2008). Enrichment effects on adult cognitive development: can the functional capacity of older adults be preserved and enhanced? Psychological science in the public interest, 9(1), 1-65.
• Hobfoll, S. E. (1998). Stress, Culture, and Community: The Psychology and Physiology of Stress. New York: Plenum Press.
• Hobfoll, S. E. (2011). Conservation of resource caravans and engaged settings. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 84(1), 116-122.
• Holmgrenn, L., Tirone, V., Gerhart, J., Hobfoll, S. E., Cooper, C. L., & Quick, J. C. (2017). Conservation of resources theory: resource caravans and passageways in health contexts. In C. L. Cooper & J. C. Quick (Eds.), The handbook of stress and health: A guide to research and practice (pp. 443-457). New York: John Wiley & Sons Ltd..
• Hoover, K. S. (2021). Children in nature: exploring the relationship between childhood outdoor experience and environmental stewardship. Environmental Education Research, 27(6), 894-910.
• Jou, T. H. (1981). The Tao of Tai-Chi Chuan. Piscataway. NJ: Tai Chi Foundation.
• Ju, H. (2017). The relationship between physical activity, meaning in life, and subjective vitality in community-dwelling older adults. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 73, 120-124.
• Kang, M., & Gretzel, U. (2012). Effects of podcast tours on tourist experiences in a national park. Tourism Management, 33(2), 440-455.
• Kao, Y. F., Huang, L. S., & Wu, C. H. (2008). Effects of theatrical elements on experiential quality and loyalty intentions for theme parks. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 13(2), 163-174.
• Kark, R., & Carmeli, A. (2009). Alive and creating: The mediating role of vitality and aliveness in the relationship between psychological safety and creative work involvement. The International Journal of Industrial, Occupational and Organizational Psychology and Behavior, 30(6), 785-804.
• Kas, M. J. H., De Mooij‐van Malsen, J. G., De Krom, M., Van Gassen, K. L. I., Van Lith, H. A., Olivier, B., ... & Holstege, F. C. P. (2009). High‐resolution genetic mapping of mammalian motor activity levels in mice. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 8(1), 13-22.
• Kheiraoui, F., Gualano, M. R., Mannocci, A., Boccia, A., & La Torre, G. (2012). Quality of life among healthcare workers: A multicentre cross-sectional study in Italy. Public Health, 126(7), 624-629.
• Ki, J. (2016). A Study of Korea Garden Industry’s Profile and Development Direction. Journal of Korean Society for People, Plants and Environment, 19(1), 55-61.
• Kobayashi, S., Terao, T., Shirahama, M., Hatano, K., Hirakawa, H., Kohno, K., ... & Ishii, N. (2019). Relationship between hyperthymic temperament, self‐directedness, and self‐transcendence in medical students and staff members. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 73(5), 277-283.
• Kock, N. (2015). Common method bias in PLS SEM: A full collinearity assessment approach. International Journal of e-Collaboration, 11(4), 1-10.
• Leiserowitz, A. A., Kates, R. W., & Parris, T. M. (2006). Sustainability values, attitudes, and behaviors: A review of multinational and global trends. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 31(1), 413-444.
• Lipovská, B. (2013). The fruit of garden tourism may fall over the wall: Small private gardens and tourism. Tourism Management Perspectives, 6, 114-121.
• Lopez, C. W. (2020). Community geography as a model for improving efforts of environmental stewardship. Geography Compass, 14(4), e12485.
• Lucas, A. G., Chang, E. C., Morris, L. E., Angoff, H. D., Chang, O. D., Duong, A. H., ... & Hirsch, J. K. (2019). Relationship between hope and quality of life in primary care patients: vitality as a mechanism. Social Work, 64(3), 233-241.
• Martin-Cuellar, A., Lardier Jr, D. T., & Atencio, D. J. (2019). Therapist mindfulness and subjective vitality: The role of psychological wellbeing and compassion satisfaction. Journal of Mental Health, 30(1), 1-8.
• Martin-Ruiz, D., Castellanos-Verdugo, M., & de los Ángeles Oviedo-García, M. (2010). A visitors’ evaluation index for a visit to an archaeological site. Tourism Management, 31(5), 590-596.
• McNair, D., Lorr, M., & Doppleman, L. (1971). Profile of mood states manual. San Diego: Educational and Industrial Testing Service.
• Miller-Rushing, A., Primack, R., & Bonney, R. (2012). The history of public participation in ecological research. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 10(6), 285-290.
• Mounce, R., Smith, P., Brockington, S., (2017). Ex situ conservation of plant diversity in the world’s botanic gardens. Nat. Plants, 3, 795–802.
• Nawijn, J., & Veenhoven, R. (2011). The effect of leisure activities on life satisfaction: The importance of holiday trips. In I. Brdar (Ed.), The Human Pursuit of Well-Being (pp. 39-53). Amsterdam: Springer Netherlands.
• Norman, L. (1999). Community empowerment approaches to environmental stewardship. Master’s thesis, The University of Guelph, Canada.
• Ok, K. & Koç, M. (2019). Doğal değerlerin yönetimi ve sosyal pazarlama anlayışı: Atatürk Arboretumu örneği. Turkish Journal of Forestry, 20(4), 373-380.
• Oreg, S., & Katz-Gerro, T. (2006). Predicting pro-environmental behavior cross-nationally: Values, the theory of planned behavior, and value-belief-norm theory. Environment and Behavior, 38(4), 462-483.
• Otto, J. E., & Ritchie, J. B. (1996). The service experience in tourism. Tourism Management, 17(3), 165-174.
• Pearce, P. L. (2005). Tourist behaviour: Themes and conceptual schemes. Bristol: Channel View Publications.
• Penninx, B. W., Guralnik, J. M., Bandeen‐Roche, K., Kasper, J. D., Simonsick, E. M., Ferrucci, L., & Fried, L. P. (2000). The protective effect of emotional vitality on adverse health outcomes in disabled older women. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 48(11), 1359-1366.
• Petitmengin, C. (2006). Describing one’s subjective experience in the second person: An interview method for the science of consciousness. Phenomenology and the Cognitive sciences, 5(3-4), 229-269.
• Pine, B. J., & Gilmore, J. H. (1998). Welcome to the experience economy. Harvard Business Review, 76, 97-105.
• Plog, S. C. (1979). Where in the world are people going and why do they want to go there. Paper presented at the meeting of the Tiangus Touristico Annual Conference, Acapulco, Mexico.
• Polk, D. E., Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Skoner, D. P., & Kirschbaum, C. (2005). State and trait affect as predictors of salivary cortisol in healthy adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 30(3), 261-272.
• Polonsky, M. J., Vocino, A., Grau, S. L., Garma, R., & Ferdous, A. S. (2012). The impact of general and carbon-related environmental knowledge on attitudes and behaviour of US consumers. Journal of Marketing Management, 28(3-4), 238-263.
• Porath, C., Spreitzer, G., Gibson, C., & Garnett, F. G. (2012). Thriving at work: Toward its measurement, construct validation, and theoretical refinement. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 33(2), 250-275.
• Qiu, X., Martin, G. B., & Blache, D. (2017). Gene polymorphisms associated with temperament. Journal of Neurogenetics, 31(1-2), 1-16.
• Ryan, R. M., & Bernstein, J. (2004). Vitality/Zest/Enthusiasm/Vigor/Energy. In C. Petersen & M. E. P. Seligman (Eds.), Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification (pp. 273–289). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
• Ryan, R. M., & Frederick, C. (1997). On energy, personality, and health: Subjective vitality as a dynamic reflection of well‐being. Journal of Personality, 65(3), 529–565.
• Ryan, R. M., Weinstein, N., Bernstein, J., Brown, K. W., Mistretta, L., & Gagne, M. (2010). Vitalizing effects of being outdoors and in nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(2), 159-168.
• Sayılan, H. (2008). Endemik Bir Bitki Türü Olan Muş Lalesi’nin (Tulipa Sintenisii Baker) Botanik Turizmi (Bitki Gözlemciliği) Amaçlı Değerlendirilmesi. Paper presented at the meeting of the Ulusal Coğrafya Sempozyumu, Ankara, Turkey.
• Salama-Younes, M., & Hashim, M. (2018). Passion, vitality and life satisfaction for physically active old adults. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(3), 309-319.
• Shirom, A. (2007). Explaining vigor: On the antecedents and consequences of vigor as a positive affect at work. In C. L. Cooper & D. Nelson (Eds.), Organizational behavior: Accentuating the positive at work (pp. 86–100). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
• Stern, M. J., Powell, R. B., & Ardoin, N. M. (2008). What difference does it make? Assessing outcomes from participation in a residential environmental education program. The Journal of Environmental Education, 39(4), 31-43.
• Su, X., Li, X., Chen, W., & Zeng, T. (2020). Subjective vitality, authenticity experience, and intangible cultural heritage tourism: an empirical study of the puppet show. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 37(2), 258-271.
• Suhartanto, D., Brien, A., Primiana, I., Wibisono, N., & Triyuni, N. N. (2020). Tourist loyalty in creative tourism: the role of experience quality, value, satisfaction, and motivation. Current Issues in Tourism, 23(7), 867-879.
• Stewart, E. J., Hayward, B. M., Devlin, P. J., & Kirby, V. G. (1998). The “place” of interpretation: A new approach to the evaluation of interpretation. Tourism management, 19(3), 257-266.
• Swencionis, C., Wylie-Rosett, J., Lent, M. R., Ginsberg, M., Cimino, C., Wassertheil-Smoller, S., ... & Segal-Isaacson, C. J. (2013). Weight change, psychological well-being, and vitality in adults participating in a cognitive behavioral weight loss program. Health Psychology, 32(4), 439.
• Thapa, B. (2010). The mediation effect of outdoor recreation participation on environmental attitude-behavior correspondence. The Journal of Environmental Education, 41(3), 133-150.
• Thayer, R. E. (1987). Energy, tiredness, and tension effects as a function of a sugar snack vs. moderate exercise. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 119-125.
• TRT Belgesel - Turkish Radio Television Documentary (2015, October, 30). Ve Sonra - 6. Bölüm Boğaz'ın Boğası (And then- 6. Episode The Bull of Bosphorus) [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrrgLJPY_S4
• Tsoi, S. L. T. A., de Boer, A., Croiset, G., Koster, A. S., van der Burgt, S., & Kusurkar, R. A. (2018). How basic psychological needs and motivation affect vitality and lifelong learning adaptability of pharmacists: A structural equation model. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 23(3), 549-566.
• Vargo, S. L., & Lusch, R. F. (2004). Evolving to a new dominant logic for marketing. Journal of Marketing, 68(1), 1-17.
• Wolf, I. D., Stricker, H. K., & Hagenloh, G. (2015). Outcome-focused national park experience management: Transforming participants, promoting social well-being, and fostering place attachment. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(3), 358-381.
• Zeleke, A.N. (2018). İstanbul Atatürk Arboretumunun ziyaretçi profilinin pazar bölümlendirmesi. Unpublished master of science thesis, İstanbul University, İstanbul.
• Zhao, X., Lynch Jr, J. G., & Chen, Q. (2010). Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and truths about mediation analysis. Journal of Consumer Research, 37(2), 197-206.