IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i12p4861-d191818.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impacts of Leisure and Tourism on the Elderly’s Quality of Life in Intimacy: A Comparative Study in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Linghan Zhang

    (Mobilities and Urban Policy Lab, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, Higashi Hiroshima 739-8529, Japan)

  • Junyi Zhang

    (Mobilities and Urban Policy Lab, Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University, Higashi Hiroshima 739-8529, Japan)

Abstract

Highly social activities like leisure and tourism are considered to have positive effects on the elderly’s mental health. Taking Japan as a case study, this research aims to clarify how leisure and tourism contribute to the elderly’s quality of life (QOL) in the domains of leisure and intimacy by comparing populated and depopulated areas. Such research has strong implications for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through healthy aging, but relevant efforts are quite limited. In this study, leisure and tourism behaviors are captured by visit frequency, travel party and expenditure. Quality of life is measured by happiness and life satisfaction in different life domains, in line with the life-oriented approach. Data were collected in 2014 via a nationwide online survey in Japan. Applying a structural equation model (SEM) approach, it is found that leisure behavior contributes to maintaining the elderly’s QOL in leisure life and intimacy domains. Tourism behavior only contributes to QOL in populated areas. Leisure activities strongly enhance QOL in terms of intimacy and improve the neighborhood relationship of the elderly in depopulated areas and family life in populated areas. Enriching daily leisure activities for the elderly would improve their intimate relationships in depopulated areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Linghan Zhang & Junyi Zhang, 2018. "Impacts of Leisure and Tourism on the Elderly’s Quality of Life in Intimacy: A Comparative Study in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4861-:d:191818
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/12/4861/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/12/4861/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Oswald, Andrew J, 1997. "Happiness and Economic Performance," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 107(445), pages 1815-1831, November.
    2. Peter MATANLE, 2010. "Introduction: A Special Focus on Shrinking Regions," Social Science Japan Journal, University of Tokyo and Oxford University Press, vol. 13(2), pages 183-185.
    3. John Robinson & Steven Martin, 2008. "What Do Happy People Do?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 89(3), pages 565-571, December.
    4. Carin Lennartsson & Merril Silverstein, 2001. "Does Engagement With Life Enhance Survival of Elderly People in Sweden? The Role of Social and Leisure Activities," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 56(6), pages 335-342.
    5. Bo-Wei Zhu & Jia-Rui Zhang & Gwo-Hshiung Tzeng & Shan-Lin Huang & Lei Xiong, 2017. "Public Open Space Development for Elderly People by Using the DANP-V Model to Establish Continuous Improvement Strategies towards a Sustainable and Healthy Aging Society," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-29, March.
    6. Dolnicar, Sara & Lazarevski, Katie & Yanamandram, Venkata, 2013. "Quality of life and tourism: A conceptual framework and novel segmentation base," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(6), pages 724-729.
    7. Farquhar, Morag, 1995. "Elderly people's definitions of quality of life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(10), pages 1439-1446, November.
    8. Jaekyung Lee & Saheum Hong & Yunmi Park, 2017. "Predictable Surprise: The Spatial and Social Morphology of Aging Suburbs in the U.S. Metropolitan Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-20, March.
    9. Dong Woo Ko & Young Han Bae & Jayoung Han, 2018. "Social Exclusion and Switching Barriers in Medicare Part D Choices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-10, July.
    10. Neal, Janet D. & Sirgy, M. Joseph & Uysal, Muzaffer, 1999. "The Role of Satisfaction with Leisure Travel/ Tourism Services and Experience in Satisfaction with Leisure Life and Overall Life," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 153-163, March.
    11. Walker, Ruth B. & Hiller, Janet E., 2007. "Places and health: A qualitative study to explore how older women living alone perceive the social and physical dimensions of their neighbourhoods," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(6), pages 1154-1165, September.
    12. Richard Easterlin, 2001. "Life Cycle Welfare: Trends and Differences," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 1-12, March.
    13. Xuefeng Li & Yong Zhang & Mingyang Du, 2018. "Analysis of Travel Decision-Making for Urban Elderly Healthcare Activities under Temporal and Spatial Constraints," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.
    14. Ariel Rodríguez & Pavlína Látková & Ya-Yen Sun, 2008. "The relationship between leisure and life satisfaction: application of activity and need theory," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 86(1), pages 163-175, March.
    15. Bixia Chen & Zhenmian Qiu & Nisikawa Usio & Koji Nakamura, 2018. "Tourism’s Impacts on Rural Livelihood in the Sustainability of an Aging Community in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.
    16. Uysal, Muzaffer & Sirgy, M. Joseph & Woo, Eunju & Kim, Hyelin (Lina), 2016. "Quality of life (QOL) and well-being research in tourism," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 244-261.
    17. Yoshitaka Iwasaki, 2007. "Leisure and quality of life in an international and multicultural context: what are major pathways linking leisure to quality of life?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 82(2), pages 233-264, June.
    18. Robert Cummins, 1996. "The domains of life satisfaction: An attempt to order chaos," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 303-328, January.
    19. Chen, Sandy C. & Shoemaker, Stowe, 2014. "Age and cohort effects: The American senior tourism market," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 58-75.
    20. Junyi Zhang & Yubing Xiong, 2015. "Effects of multifaceted consumption on happiness in life: a case study in Japan based on an integrated approach," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 62(2), pages 143-162, June.
    21. M. Sirgy, 1998. "Materialism and Quality of Life," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 227-260, March.
    22. Andreja Brajša-Žganec & Marina Merkaš & Iva Šverko, 2011. "Quality of Life and Leisure Activities: How do Leisure Activities Contribute to Subjective Well-Being?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 102(1), pages 81-91, May.
    23. Frank, Robert H, 1997. "The Frame of Reference as a Public Good," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 107(445), pages 1832-1847, November.
    24. Kathleen Lloyd & Christopher Auld, 2002. "The Role of Leisure in Determining Quality of Life: Issues of Content and Measurement," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 43-71, January.
    25. M. Sirgy & Dong-Jin Lee & Frank Kressmann, 2006. "A Need-Based Measure of Consumer Well Being (CWB) in Relation to Personal Transportation: Nomological Validation," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 79(2), pages 337-367, November.
    26. Valentina Carella & Paola Monachesi, 2018. "Greener through Grey? Boosting Sustainable Development through a Philosophical and Social Media Analysis of Ageing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-13, February.
    27. Morita, Ayako & Takano, Takehito & Nakamura, Keiko & Kizuki, Masashi & Seino, Kaoruko, 2010. "Contribution of interaction with family, friends and neighbours, and sense of neighbourhood attachment to survival in senior citizens: 5-year follow-up study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(4), pages 543-549, February.
    28. Chih-Chao Chung & Chien-Linag Lin & Shi-Jer Lou, 2018. "Analysis of the Learning Effectiveness of the STEAM-6E Special Course—A Case Study about the Creative Design of IoT Assistant Devices for the Elderly," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, August.
    29. Elena Matei & Despina Saghin & Liliana Dumitrache & Mariana Nae, 2018. "Multidimensional Approach on Sustainability of Ageing in Romanian Residential Care Centres for Elders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, September.
    30. I-Ming Feng & Jun-Hong Chen & Bo-Wei Zhu & Lei Xiong, 2018. "Assessment of and Improvement Strategies for the Housing of Healthy Elderly: Improving Quality of Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-32, March.
    31. Kim, Hyelin & Woo, Eunju & Uysal, Muzaffer, 2015. "Tourism experience and quality of life among elderly tourists," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 465-476.
    32. James Roberts & Aimee Clement, 2007. "Materialism and Satisfaction with Over-All Quality Of Life and Eight Life Domains," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 82(1), pages 79-92, May.
    33. Lisa Ryan & Suzanne Dziurawiec, 2001. "Materialism and Its Relationship to Life Satisfaction," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 185-197, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hilary I. Okagbue & Pelumi E. Oguntunde & Sheila A. Bishop & Patience I. Adamu & Elvir M. Akhmetshin & Chukwuemeka O. Iroham, 2021. "Significant Predictors of Henley Passport Index," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 21-32, March.
    2. Tomoko Totsune & Izumi Matsudaira & Yasuyuki Taki, 2021. "Curiosity–tourism interaction promotes subjective wellbeing among older adults in Japan," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Agnieszka Wojewódzka-Wiewiórska & Anna Kłoczko-Gajewska & Piotr Sulewski, 2019. "Between the Social and Economic Dimensions of Sustainability in Rural Areas—In Search of Farmers’ Quality of Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-26, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fatih Terzi & Handan Türkoğlu & Fulin Bölen & Perver Baran & Tayfun Salihoğlu, 2015. "Residents’ Perception of Cultural Activities as Quality of Life in Istanbul," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 122(1), pages 211-234, May.
    2. David Newman & Louis Tay & Ed Diener, 2014. "Leisure and Subjective Well-Being: A Model of Psychological Mechanisms as Mediating Factors," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 555-578, June.
    3. Oliviero Carboni & Paolo Russu, 2015. "Assessing Regional Wellbeing in Italy: An Application of Malmquist–DEA and Self-organizing Map Neural Clustering," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 122(3), pages 677-700, July.
    4. Page, Stephen J. & Hartwell, Heather & Johns, Nick & Fyall, Alan & Ladkin, Adele & Hemingway, Ann, 2017. "Case study: Wellness, tourism and small business development in a UK coastal resort: Public engagement in practice," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 466-477.
    5. Uysal, Muzaffer & Sirgy, M. Joseph & Woo, Eunju & Kim, Hyelin (Lina), 2016. "Quality of life (QOL) and well-being research in tourism," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 244-261.
    6. Christian WEISMAYER & Ivo PONOCNY & Sabine SEDLACEK & Bernadette STROSS & Stefan DRESSLER, 2017. "The Relationship Between Natural Urban Surroundings And Residents’ Well-Being," Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 12(1), pages 21-37, February.
    7. Liang, Zeng-Xian & Hui, Tak-Kee, 2016. "Residents’ quality of life and attitudes toward tourism development in China," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 56-67.
    8. Andreja Brajša-Žganec & Marina Merkaš & Iva Šverko, 2011. "Quality of Life and Leisure Activities: How do Leisure Activities Contribute to Subjective Well-Being?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 102(1), pages 81-91, May.
    9. Cristina Bernini & Andrea Guizzardi & Giovanni Angelini, 2013. "DEA-Like Model and Common Weights Approach for the Construction of a Subjective Community Well-Being Indicator," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 405-424, November.
    10. Prinz, Aloys & Bünger, Björn, 2009. "From full life to balanced life: Extending Martin Seligman's route to happiness," CAWM Discussion Papers 17, University of Münster, Münster Center for Economic Policy (MEP).
    11. Dong, Han & Zhang, Jun & Cirillo, Cinzia, 2019. "Exploring, understanding, and modeling the reciprocal relation between leisure and subjective well-being," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 813-824.
    12. Soo Tan & Siok Tambyah & Ah Kau, 2006. "The Influence of Value Orientations and Demographics on Quality-of-Life Perceptions: Evidence from a National Survey of Singaporeans," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 78(1), pages 33-59, August.
    13. Miroslav Rončák & Petr Scholz & Ivica Linderová, 2021. "Safety Concerns and Travel Behavior of Generation Z: Case Study from the Czech Republic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-17, December.
    14. Bimonte, Salvatore & Faralla, Valeria, 2016. "Does residents' perceived life satisfaction vary with tourist season? A two-step survey in a Mediterranean destination," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 199-208.
    15. M. Joseph Sirgy & Muzaffer Uysal & Stefan Kruger, 2017. "Towards a Benefits Theory of Leisure Well-Being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(1), pages 205-228, March.
    16. Grace B. Yu & Dong-Jin Lee & M. Joseph Sirgy & Michael Bosnjak, 2020. "Household Income, Satisfaction with Standard of Living, and Subjective Well-Being. The Moderating Role of Happiness Materialism," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 21(8), pages 2851-2872, December.
    17. Ozge Gokdemir & Emine Tahsin, 2014. "Factors that Influence the Life Satisfaction of Women Living in the Northern Cyprus," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 115(3), pages 1071-1085, February.
    18. Easterlin, Richard A., 2003. "Building a Better Theory of Well-Being," IZA Discussion Papers 742, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    19. Prinz, Aloys & Bünger, Björn, 2012. "Balancing ‘full life’: An economic approach to the route to happiness," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 58-70.
    20. Dina Lončarić & Marina Perišić Prodan & Lidija Bagarić, 2018. "The Relationship Between Tourism Experience Co-Creation, Life Satisfaction and Behavioural Intentions," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2018(4), pages 1-14.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4861-:d:191818. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.