Taking Aging Parents on Holiday: A Social Practice Perspective

Keywords

family travel; filial piety; intergenerational differences; parent-child relationships; social practice theory

Abstract

Family travel with aging parents has emerged as a growing market in China. This study applies social practice theory to examine family travel practices and related sociocultural factors. Qualitative interviews with 23 families were conducted to identify parents' and adult children's subjective experiences of intergenerational differences and action logics throughout the trip. The findings reveal that, because of urban-rural distinctions, the two generations have differing travel habits, preferences, and capabilities, which foster interdependency but also induce tensions. Influenced by reciprocal filial piety, both generations feel obligated to make compromises and gratify the other's needs to fulfill their desirable prospects of family travel. The urban-rural distinctions are gradually resolved as the ongoing negotiations unfold. This study advances existing research by integrating the zooming-in and zooming-out lenses of practice theory to highlight the interplay between family travel practices and wider social structures.

Publication Date

9-2023

Original Citation

Yi, L., Tong, Y., Wu, M.-Y., & Fu, X. (2023). Taking Aging Parents on Holiday: A Social Practice Perspective. Journal of Travel Research, 62(8), 1722–1736. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875221142009

Document Type

Paper

Language

English

Source Title

Journal of Travel Research

Volume

62

Issue

8

College

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Location

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

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