Home and away: The existential well-being of left-behind children in travelling

IF 7.3 2区管理学 Q1 HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, SPORT & TOURISM

Tourism Management Perspectives Pub Date : 2025-06-25 DOI:10.1016/j.tmp.2025.101391

Yawei Wu, Weng Hang Kong

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This research explores the left-behind children's travel experience during their visits to their parents and examines the impact of these experiences on their existential well-being, primarily focusing on the interplay between ‘home’ and ‘away’ experiences. To achieve this goal, qualitative research methods were used, including participant observation of six families and interviews with 16 families. Findings show that left-behind children's ‘home’ and ‘away’ experiences are multidimensional, with each dimension influencing the others. During the trips, they not only gain the warmth and safety of ‘home’ but also encounter the challenges of independence and the desire for exploration associated with ‘away’. However, this process might also have potential negative impacts due to the tension between emotional attachment and the desire for independence, which may adversely impact children's mental health. Based on the existential theory of well-being and the lifeworld-led approach, this research introduces a new theoretical framework to explore the relationship between travel experiences and well-being. It provides a basis for policy formulation and social intervention whilst advancing inclusive and sustainable tourism development.

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家乡与远方：旅行中留守儿童的生存幸福感

本研究探讨了留守儿童在探望父母期间的旅行经历，并考察了这些经历对他们存在幸福感的影响，主要关注“家”和“客场”体验之间的相互作用。为了实现这一目标，本研究采用了定性研究方法，包括对6个家庭的参与观察和对16个家庭的访谈。研究结果表明，留守儿童的“在家”和“外出”经历是多维的，每个维度都会影响其他维度。在旅途中，他们不仅获得了“家”的温暖和安全，而且还遇到了独立的挑战，以及与“离开”相关的探索欲望。然而，这一过程也可能产生潜在的负面影响，因为情感依恋和独立愿望之间存在紧张关系，可能对儿童的心理健康产生不利影响。本研究基于幸福感的存在主义理论和生活世界导向方法，引入了一个新的理论框架来探讨旅行体验与幸福感之间的关系。它为政策制定和社会干预提供了基础，同时促进包容性和可持续的旅游发展。

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来源期刊

Tourism Management Perspectives Multiple-

CiteScore

15.60

自引率

3.40%

发文量

审稿时长

59 days

期刊介绍： Tourism Management Perspectives is an interdisciplinary journal that focuses on the planning and management of travel and tourism. It covers topics such as tourist experiences, their consequences for communities, economies, and environments, the creation of image, the shaping of tourist experiences and perceptions, and the management of tourist organizations and destinations. The journal's editorial board consists of experienced international professionals and it shares the board with Tourism Management. The journal covers socio-cultural, technological, planning, and policy aspects of international, national, and regional tourism, as well as specific management studies. It encourages papers that introduce new research methods and critique existing ones in the context of tourism research. The journal publishes empirical research articles and high-quality review articles on important topics and emerging themes that enhance the theoretical and conceptual understanding of key areas within travel and tourism management.