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A Measure of Quality of Life in Elderly Tourists

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Abstract

This research enriches our knowledge of the tourist market in relation to the elderly, i.e., those age 65 and older and retired. The purpose of the research is to explore the missing link between travel behaviors of the elderly and how they contribute to Quality of Life (QoL). As a result, this study clarifies elderly tourist motivation and also aims to examine the relationship among motivation, constraints, leisure-life domain satisfaction, and overall life satisfaction by generating theoretical and practical implications related to those behaviors. Using a structural equation modeling approach, the research model identifies the relevant relationships among the constructs. The results reveal that motivation positively influences satisfaction with leisure-life domain. However, travel constraints do not affect leisure-life domain satisfaction. In addition, satisfaction with leisure-life domain is linked to overall life satisfaction among the elderly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 342 Wallace Hall (0429), Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Eunju Woo, Hyelin Kim & Muzaffer Uysal

Authors
  1. Eunju Woo
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  2. Hyelin Kim
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  3. Muzaffer Uysal
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Correspondence to Hyelin Kim.

Appendix A

Appendix A

Push Motivation (21 Items)

Dimension 1, Novelty (Cronbach’s Alpha = .90)

Learning new things

Seeking intellectual enrichment

Seeking spiritual enrichment

Visiting new places and see new things

Experiencing different cultures and ways of life

Seeing how other people live

Seeing the things that I don’t normally see

Dimension 2, Entertainment (Cronbach’s Alpha = .90)

Engaging in physical activities

Having opportunities for doing sports

Improving health/physical fitness

Dimension 3, Relaxation (Cronbach’s Alpha = .82)

Doing nothing at all

Resting and relaxing

Escaping from everyday routine

Enjoying life

Dimension 4, Socialization (Cronbach’s Alpha = .75)

Spending time with immediate family and relatives

Meeting new people and socializing while travelling

Visiting friends and relatives who live in other cities

Dimension 5, Internal Motivation (Cronbach’s Alpha = .79)

Spending time with a group of good friends

Visiting places I have always wanted to go

Feeling a sense of self-fulfillment

Nostalgic reminiscence

Constraints (20 Items)

Dimension 1, External Resources (Cronbach’s Alpha = .90)

I have no information about the place to visit

I have had difficulty getting information

The trip requires me to do too much planning

Dimension 2, Time (Cronbach’s Alpha = .90)

I cannot afford to spend money on travel

I have no time to take a trip

I have more important thing to do than travel

Travelling would interrupt my normal life

I don’t have either the clothing or luggage for travel

Dimension 3, Approval and Social Condition (Cronbach’s Alpha = .84)

My spouse dislike travel

I would feel guilty about travelling

Concern for family doesn’t allow me travel

I fear of leaving home unattended

I don’t’ have companion to travel with

My family and friends are not interested in travelling

Dimension 4, Physical Condition (Cronbach’s Alpha = .86)

I don’t have the energy to travel

My health prevent me from travelling

I have dietary consideration that limits my travel

I fear of travel on certain forms of transportation

I am too old to travel

I have a disability which makes travel difficult

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Woo, E., Kim, H. & Uysal, M. A Measure of Quality of Life in Elderly Tourists. Applied Research Quality Life 11, 65–82 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-014-9355-x

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