Exploring the Influence of Family Holiday Travel on the Subjective Well-being of Chinese Adolescents

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to explore the influence of family holiday travel on the subjective well-being (SWB) of Chinese adolescents. Surveys were distributed at two public middle schools in the urban area of a large city located in the eastern part of Mainland China. Participants were middle school students aged between 12 and 15 years (grades 7–9). By using Labor Day in China as an experimental context, this study applied a longitudinal research design. Findings suggest that family holiday travel influences the global life satisfaction; contentment with school, self and leisure life; positive and negative affects of adolescents. In particular, there is a short-term lift-up effect of family holiday travel on the SWB of adolescent travelers. However, the results suggest that the benefits of family holiday travel in terms of SWB diminish when adolescent students return to school. Moreover, students who travel with their families during holidays have significantly higher post-holiday SWB than their non-traveling counterparts. The current study advances our knowledge on the influence of family travel on the SWB of adolescents. Recommendations for parents, schools, and the government were put forward.