Wellness in the "U-bend" of life: why the core market is middle aged and female. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smith, Melanie Kay
• Is Part Of: International journal of spa and wellness. Volume 1:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 4
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2018-01-02
• Subjects: Wellness -- health -- life satisfaction -- middle age -- mid-life crisis -- "U-bend" theory; Health resorts -- Periodicals; Health resorts -- Management -- Periodicals; Well-being -- Periodicals; Self-care, Health -- Periodicals; Lifestyles -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; 613.12205
• DOI: 10.1080/24721735.2018.1438480
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2472-1735

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to analyse why the largest percentage of spa, wellness and health tourism customers tend to be middle aged (around 45 on average) and predominantly female. Both academic and popular psychological research indicate that life satisfaction reaches a nadir during the middle years of life during which many adults experience a so-called mid-life crisis. However, it is often the case that people become happier again as they age – the "U-bend" of life theory. The first part of this paper explores a number of studies which support these theories, followed by an analysis of primary research which consisted of 60 e-interviews with professional people aged 40 and over. The final part of the paper considers the implications for the spa, wellness and health tourism industries and makes recommendations for how these sectors can provide the ideal services for their core market of middle-aged and female guests.