Exploring posttraumatic growth after the COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Tourism Studies
• Sociology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented global challenges and traumas.
• Despite the adversities, significant posttraumatic growth (PTG) has been observed in various populations.
• Understanding PTG in the context of tourism is crucial for post-crisis recovery and future travel behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate tourists' positive psychological changes after the COVID-19 pandemic, guided by posttraumatic growth theory.
• To examine the influence of social support, psychological distress, and infection risk perception on PTG dimensions among tourists.
• To identify causal pathways and necessary conditions for achieving posttraumatic growth in tourism.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 1165 potential tourists across 197 cities in China.
• Application of symmetrical and asymmetrical approaches, including partial least squares (PLS) testing.
• Utilization of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and necessary condition analysis (NCA).

Main Results:

• Social support, psychological distress, and infection risk perception significantly impact tourists' posttraumatic growth.
• Key dimensions of PTG identified include travel risk aversion, social identity, and altruistic behavior.
• Specific causal configurations and necessary antecedents for PTG were determined through fsQCA and NCA.

Conclusions:

• Posttraumatic growth is a significant phenomenon among tourists navigating the post-COVID-19 era.
• Interventions focusing on social support and distress management can foster positive changes in tourists.
• Findings offer insights for rebuilding traveler confidence and promoting resilient tourism practices.