Perceived Environmental, Individual and Social Factors of Long-Distance Collective Walking in Cities

Peng Yang, Shanshan Dai, Honggang Xu and Peng Ju
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Peng Yang: School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
Shanshan Dai: School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
Honggang Xu: School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
Peng Ju: Shenzhen Tourism College, Jinan University, Shenzhen 518053, China

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: Long-distance collective walking is a popular activity in cities across China. However, related research is limited, creating a research gap to explore participants’ dynamic experience and related influential factors. Therapeutic mobilities theory explores the relationships among walking, health, and well-being from a qualitative perspective. Based on therapeutic mobilities theory, following a systematic process, this study develops a scale to quantitatively estimate the perceived environmental, personal, and social factors that may influence health and well-being. By applying construal level theory, this paper further hypothesizes that personality traits and familiarity moderate environmental, personal, and social perceptions. Data were collected with a paper survey ( n = 926) from the “Shenzhen 100 km Walking” event. The findings highlight that long-distance collective walkers have comparatively greater experiences of health and well-being in three aspects: positive social interaction, individual development, and environmental understanding. Personality traits, familiarity, and gender moderate this well-being experience. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

Keywords: well-being experience; long-distance walking; collective leisure activity; walking event; urban leisure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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