Two birds with one stone: Goal conflict handling and its effect on well-being

Wang, Luqi; Xu, Yuanyi; Lin, Zhibin; Chen, Ye

Abstract

A tourist’s journey is often shaped by the pursuit of diverse and sometimes conflicting goals. In this study, we investigate how tourists handle conflicting goals during their travels. Drawing upon life history theory, we have developed and tested a conceptual model that examines how life history strategies (LHS, fast vs. slow) influence goal management approaches (highlighting vs. balancing) and their subsequent impact on tourist well-being. Through a combination of surveys, field and lab experiments, and a meta-analysis, our research reveals that when confronted with goal conflicts, tourists with a fast LHS tend to prefer a highlighting approach, while those with a slow LHS gravitate towards a balancing approach, with perceived deservingness serving as a mediator in this relationship. Moreover, matching (vs. mismatching) LHS with goal management enhances overall well-being. These findings offer valuable insights for both theoretical advancement and practical management in tourism.

Citation

Wang, L., Xu, Y., Lin, Z., & Chen, Y. (2024). Two birds with one stone: Goal conflict handling and its effect on well-being. Tourism Management, 102, Article 104878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2023.104878

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 15, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 27, 2023
• Publication Date: 2024-06
• Deposit Date: Jan 15, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 17, 2024
• Journal: Tourism Management
• Print ISSN: 0261-5177
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 102
• Article Number: 104878
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2023.104878
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2146310