Date of Award
Summer 2025
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Department
School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management
First Advisor
Fang Meng
Abstract
In the context of increasing digitalization across the tourism and hospitality sector, digital technologies have become essential components shaping the contemporary tourist experience. While these technologies offer enhanced convenience, personalization, and connectivity, they also pose risks such as cognitive overload, distraction, and digital fatigue. Despite growing concerns, the concept of digital wellbeing remains underexplored. This dissertation addresses this gap by conceptualizing digital well-being, identifying its dimensions, and developing a validated measurement scale tailored to the tourism and hospitality settings.
By employing a multi-phase research design, this study includes a systematic literature review, a three-round Delphi study involving tourism and hospitality experts, and empirical scale development and validation. Study 1 conceptualizes digital wellbeing in the tourism and hospitality context and highlights its dynamic and multifaceted nature. Study 2 establishes a consensus-based definition and identifies key domains, indicators, facilitators, and barriers through expert input. Study 3 develops and validates a multidimensional scale encompassing eight dimensions: temporal control, hedonicutilitarian value, physical-cognitive strain, social connectivity, destination connection, self-discovery, usability and accessibility, and safety and security. The final measurement scale demonstrates strong reliability and validity across multiple samples. Further empirical testing confirms the nomological validity of the model by showing that digital literacy significantly enhances digital well-being, which in turn positively influences tourists’ satisfaction with technology usage during travel. This mediating role positions digital well-being within a broader relational network, highlighting its potential as a central mechanism linking various antecedents to technology-related travel experiences and outcomes.
This dissertation contributes to the well-being, psychology, and tourism and hospitality literature by establishing a context-specific conceptualization of digital wellbeing and bridging the gap between abstract theory and empirical application. It also provides practical implications for technology developers, tourism service providers, and policymakers. These include adopting wellness-oriented design principles, implementing digital well-being assessment tools, and promoting balanced digital engagement strategies. By fostering healthier and more meaningful digital experiences, this dissertation contributes to the sustainable development of tourism destinations and the broader well-being of tourists in the digital age.
Rights
© 2025, Hui Jiang
Recommended Citation
Jiang, H.(2025). An Evolving Concept of Well-Being in the Digital Era: Digital Well-Being in Tourism and Hospitality Experiences. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/8551