Why travel prolongs happiness: Longitudinal analysis using a latent growth model

Abstract

This study aims to explain how traveling affects the duration of happiness. As a result of analysis on data collected from 225 tourists in Korea through longitudinal measurements, life satisfaction and affect decreased in a negative slope. However, life satisfaction and affect had risen 15 days before travel and lasted for about 1 month after travel. This means that some factors concerning travel prevent hedonic adaptation and make happiness last longer. To understand the cause of inhibition of hedonic adaptation, an additional analysis was performed using the latent growth model. Travel satisfaction had a significantly direct effect on the change rate of life satisfaction after travel, and expectation and serendipity had a significantly indirect effect on the change rate of life satisfaction after travel, mediated by travel satisfaction. Thus, we provide evidence that travel experience reduces hedonic adaptation, and especially, expectation and serendipity are important for prolonging happiness.