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Abstract
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Tourism and depression disorder are both common phenomena in the 21st century. Research has pointed out the varying mental health effects of engaging in tourism, with most studies suggesting a positive correlation between participant wellbeing and going on vacation (Chen, Lehto, & Cai, 2013). The present research sheds light on the impact of tourist activity on clinical depression levels as assessed by semi-structured interview.
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is defined as poor mood, a lack of interest and joy in daily activities, changes in body weight or appetite, changes in sleep cycles and activity levels, feelings of guilt and uselessness, an inability to concentrate, and suicidal thoughts that are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). MDD is the leading cause of disability worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 322 million people suffer from depression around the globe (World Health Organization, 2017).
Chen et al. (2013) have shown that vacations spent in an environment that is different from one's own have helped tourists detach psychologically from work and mundane concerns. Bimonte and Faralla (2012) have found a positive correlation between participant lifestyle and subjective self-satisfaction ratings, with higher levels of happiness recorded for participants who engage in tourist activities. De Bloom et al. (2010) have found that physical health, mood, and life satisfaction levels improved, and mental stress levels were alleviated after a ski vacation.
Other studies have shown that planning a trip may increase levels of mental stress associated with route planning, coordinating work tasks for the period of absence, and travelling to the vacation destination (De Bloom et al., 2010). Additionally, tourists may experience disorientation, an inability to predict the outcome of future encounters, and worry - a negative condition described as an uncontrollable series of thoughts and feelings of increased insecurity about future events. Worry is related to depression and anxiety disorders (Larsen, Brun, & Øgaard, 2009)...
Language: en |