“I have to watch my back”: Exploring Chinese hotel Guests' Generalized Distrust and Coping Behavior

Keywords

Cognitive appraisal theory; Defensive coping; Emotions; Generalized distrust; Protection motivation theory

Abstract

The hospitality industry has been suffering from a pervasive climate of suspicion among guests who are concerned about potential hygiene or safety issues. From the perspective of protection motivation theory, this study presents a conceptual model elucidating the underlying mechanism through which generalized distrust shapes hotel guests' defensive coping behavior. Exploratory semi-structured interviews and online posts were combined to identify hotel guests' on-site coping strategies and underlying mechanisms. Then, an online questionnaire was distributed to 532 respondents, and structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed research model. Results provide empirical support for the "cognition–emotion–coping behavior" pattern in cognitive appraisal theory. This study offers valuable insight into the management of hotel guests' generalized distrust.

Publication Date

10-1-2021

Original Citation

Ying, T., Tan, X., Wei, W., Zheng, Y., Ye, S., & Wu, M. (2021). “I have to watch my back”: Exploring Chinese hotel guests’ generalized distrust and coping behavior. Tourism Management, 86, N.PAG. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104355

Document Type

Paper

Language

English

Source Title

Tourism Management

Volume

86

College

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Location

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

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