A stress and coping framework for understanding resident responses to tourism development. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jordan, Evan J.; Vogt, Christine A.; DeShon, Richard P.
• Is Part Of: Tourism management. Volume 48(2015)
• Page Start: 500
• Page End: 512
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Psychology -- Cruise tourism -- Caribbean -- Jamaica -- Psychometrics -- Tourism impacts; Tourism -- Periodicals; 338.4791
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2015.01.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-5177

Abstract

Abstract: Stress is one of many impacts on host community residents that can result from tourism development. Unmitigated stress can lead to a variety of negative health and behavioral outcomes. Factors like personality, social support, stress appraisal, and coping play a role in how stress affects individuals. This research conceptualizes the psychologically based stress and coping process in a tourism development context. Measurements of each element in the process are tested for construct validity in the context of cruise tourism development in Jamaica. Construct validity was supported for measures of social support and secondary stress appraisal. A measurement of coping was found to have a different factor structure in a tourism context than theoretically predicted. Valid measurement is critical to future research examining relationships within this psychological process and ultimately understanding how individuals' emotional and psychological quality of life is affected by tourism development. Highlights: Stress and coping is a framework for understanding how individuals experience and respond to tourism development impacts. Stress and coping is one element of individual's emotional and psychological well being and overall quality of life. CFA revealed adequate construct validity several stress and coping measurements in a cruise tourism context. The factor structure of a measurement of coping was found to differ from the theoretically predicted model. Individuals coped through problem focused coping, positive outlook, seeking social support, and wishful thinking.