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The Impact of Having a Holiday or Work in Fiji on Perceived Immune Fitness

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  • Joris C. Verster

    (Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Lizanne Arnoldy

    (Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Aurora J.A.E. van de Loo

    (Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Aletta D. Kraneveld

    (Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Johan Garssen

    (Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Immunology Platform for Specialized Nutrition, Danone Nutricia Research, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Andrew Scholey

    (Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

Abstract

The Western 24 h society poses great psychological and physical demands on people, which may result in complaints such as stress or being overworked, and reduced immune fitness. Having a holiday may be a good way to reduce work-related stress and reduced mood and improve perceived immune fitness. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to assess the impact of having a holiday or work on perceived immune fitness and mood. A survey was held among N = 246 young adults who were on holiday in Fiji, and N = 87 subjects who were in Fiji for work. The sample comprised both students and individuals with a job at home. Past year immune status was assessed with the Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ). Current perceived immune functioning and mood were rated from 0 (very poor) to 10 (excellent). Assessments were made for two occasions: (1) the current situation (in Fiji), and (2) at home (before traveling). Compared to being at home, both students and working individuals on holiday in Fiji reported significantly improved immune fitness and significantly improved mood. For example, both groups reported reduction of stress of about 60% while in Fiji. In students who came to Fiji for work or spending a holiday, improvements in perceived immune fitness were more pronounced than in working people coming on holiday in Fiji. In contrast, working people on holiday reported greater improvements in mood compared to students. The magnitude of improvements were significantly greater among women than men. In conclusion, the data suggest that both having a holiday or working in Fiji is associated with significant improvements of mood, which were themselves associated with improved immune fitness. The findings are of importance for the tourism industry as they demonstrate that, in addition to leisure (or being active) as a purpose for having a holiday, the observed mental health benefits and improved perceived immune fitness provide an additional motive to have a holiday.

Suggested Citation

  • Joris C. Verster & Lizanne Arnoldy & Aurora J.A.E. van de Loo & Aletta D. Kraneveld & Johan Garssen & Andrew Scholey, 2021. "The Impact of Having a Holiday or Work in Fiji on Perceived Immune Fitness," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jtourh:v:2:y:2021:i:1:p:6-112:d:495408
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kelly Morgan & G. J. Melendez-Torres & Amy Bond & Jemma Hawkins & Gillian Hewitt & Simon Murphy & Graham Moore, 2019. "Socio-Economic Inequalities in Adolescent Summer Holiday Experiences, and Mental Wellbeing on Return to School: Analysis of the School Health Research Network/Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Cornelia Blank & Katharina Gatterer & Veronika Leichtfried & Doris Pollhammer & Maria Mair-Raggautz & Stefan Duschek & Egon Humpeler & Wolfgang Schobersberger, 2018. "Short Vacation Improves Stress-Level and Well-Being in German-Speaking Middle-Managers—A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, January.
    3. Livia J. F. Wilod Versprille & Aurora J. A. E. van de Loo & Marlou Mackus & Lizanne Arnoldy & Titia A. L. Sulzer & Sterre A. Vermeulen & Smedra Abdulahad & Hendrikje Huls & Ton Baars & Andrew Scholey , 2019. "Development and Validation of the Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, November.
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