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The role of travel in enhancing life satisfaction among Chinese older adults in Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2016

XUE BAI ,
KAM HUNG  and
DANIEL W. L. LAI
XUE BAI*
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
KAM HUNG
Affiliation:
School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
DANIEL W. L. LAI
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
*
Address for correspondence: Xue Bai, Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong E-mail: xuebai@polyu.edu.hk
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Abstract

Life satisfaction is an important indicator of wellbeing and successful ageing, while boosting life satisfaction in later life has long been a policy and service challenge. Based on a questionnaire survey with 415 Chinese older adults aged 60 years and over in Hong Kong, this study examined how older adults' travel motivations influenced their travel actions and how the travel affected their life satisfaction using structural equation modelling. A proposed ‘travel motivation–action–life satisfaction’ model showed an acceptable fit with the data. It was found that travel motivations stimulated older adults' travel actions, while their travels further contributed to greater life satisfaction. The findings of this study indicated the need for improved knowledge and understanding of older adults' travel preferences and requirements, and highlight the importance of enhancing awareness among professionals and service providers about the benefit of travelling in enhancing life satisfaction of older adults.

Keywords

life satisfactionmotivationolder adultstravel
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 37 , Issue 9 , October 2017 , pp. 1824 - 1848
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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