Parents' attending status and alcohol consumption on family cohesion and satisfaction at art festivals

Abstract

PurposeThis study explores the effects of parents' attending status and alcohol consumption (scenario based) on their feelings of happiness, relaxation, family cohesion and family satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a 2 (attending status: with a child or without a child) X 3 (alcohol consumption: water, a cup of beer or four cups of beers) between-subjects experimental design on an art festival and employs relational cohesion theory while spillover theory.FindingsThe results reveal (1) significant differences between parents' attending status on happiness and relaxation; (2) significant differences between alcohol consumption on happiness, family cohesion, and family satisfaction and (3) happiness significantly mediates the effect of parents' alcohol consumption on family cohesion and family satisfaction.Practical implicationsAttending art festivals provides families with a chance to consolidate family relationships. Art festival planners could promote the festival through enhancing participants' family cohesion and satisfaction through potential family leisure activities.Originality/valueEvents are an emerging topic in the hospitality and tourism discipline in recent years. Social impacts, especially family-related outcomes, on art festivals are barely examined. Additionally, while alcohol consumption is common in festivals, the influence of alcohol consumption on the attendees' emotions and behaviors is under-researched.