Our research objective is to examine the relationship between leisure travel behavior and individuals' quality of life. Broaden and Build Theory was used to explain how happiness and quality of life are associated with psychological resilience and psychological resources like coping ability.
A purposive sampling was used and 195 working adults completed the survey in Hong Kong. Partial least square-structural equation modeling was employed for the analysis.
Positive association was found between leisure travel intensity and quality of life. There is an indirect effect between leisure travel intensity and quality of life, with happiness and psychological resilience as mediators. Perceived coping ability is a negative moderator on the relationship between leisure travel intensity and quality of life, but perceived vulnerability.
Individuals who travel more frequently or for longer durations could escape from their daily life and have a chance to recharge in a high-pressure living environment. Perceived quality of life will be significantly increased by traveling more and longer if their coping ability is weak.
A construct called “travel intensity” is introduced, which consists of travel frequency, duration of travel and travel distance, and could probably provide a more complete picture of tourist travel journey. Practitioners could propose longer trips during the holiday days. Perceived coping ability is a recommended psychological resource.
