The Relationship Between Work Stress and Compensatory Tourism Consumption: Exploring New Directions for Individual Sustainable Tourism

This study explores the impact of work stress on compensatory tourism consumption, with work stress categorized into challenge stressors and hindrance stressors. The research examines the potential for individuals to engage in regular compensatory tourism consumption. Grounded in the Challenge-Hindrance Stress framework, compensatory consumption theory, and the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model, the study employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to integrate these theories with the research model. Data were collected through an online survey, yielding 375 responses, of which 361 were valid. The sample was subjected to statistical analysis of sample characteristics, multifactorial analysis of variance, correlation analysis, convergent validity analysis, regression analysis, and Bootstrap mediation effect testing. The results indicate that work stress is positively correlated with compensatory tourism consumption, and emotional exhaustion partially mediates this relationship. Therefore, tourism industry enterprises can focus on maintaining relationships with customers who choose compensatory tourism consumption, thereby increasing the likelihood of sustainable, recurring compensatory tourism consumption among these customers.