Family Travel, Positive Psychology and Well-Being

Abstract

Research has shown that travel as a form of family leisure results in various benefits for families. Families use travel to improve their relationships, escape from the routine, create memories and improve communication, and to continue family traditions (Durko & Petrick, 2016; Shaw & Dawson, 2001; Zabriskie & McCormick, 2003). Over the last couple of decades, positive psychology and well-being have received increasing attention in assessing the benefits of travel. Studies have documented hedonic and eudaimonic elements of tourism experiences that contribute to an overall sense of well-being (e.g., Moal-Ulvoas, 2017; Neal, Uysal, & Sirgy, 2007). Aiming at bringing these two bodies of literature (i.e., family leisure and tourism well-being), in this chapter we present findings of a qualitative study that explored travel and family well-being from a positive psychological perspective.