Summary: Vacations may not only be an opportunity for recreation, but can also provide mental and general health benefits.
Font: Edith Cowen University
Many of us have probably heard of music therapy and art therapy, but what about “travel therapy”?
A new interdisciplinary paper from Edith Cowan University (ECU) proposes that we change the way we view tourism, seeing it not just as a recreational experience but as an industry that can provide real health benefits.
The collaboration between the Center for Precision Health and the ECU School of Business and Law found that many aspects of going on vacation could have a positive impact on people with mental health problems or conditions.
Lead researcher Dr Jun Wen said the diverse team of tourism, public health and marketing experts investigated how tourism could benefit people living with dementia.
“Medical experts can recommend treatments for dementia, such as music therapy, exercise, cognitive stimulation, reminiscence therapy, sensory stimulation, and adaptations to the patient’s mealtime and environment,” said Dr. Wen.
“All of these also meet often when on vacation.
“This research is one of the first to conceptually discuss how these tourist experiences could potentially work as interventions for dementia.”
Christmas fun… or treatment?
Dr Wen said the varied nature of tourism meant there were plenty of opportunities to incorporate treatments for conditions such as dementia.
For example, being in new environments and having new experiences could provide cognitive and sensory stimulation.
“Exercise has been linked to mental well-being, and traveling often involves increased physical activity, such as walking more,” said Dr. Wen.
“Mealtimes are often different around the holidays – they tend to be more social affairs with multiple people and family-style meals have been found to positively influence eating behavior in dementia patients.
“And then there are the basics like fresh air and sunlight that increase vitamin D and serotonin levels.
“Everything that comes together to represent a holistic tourism experience makes it easy to see how dementia patients can benefit from tourism as an intervention.”
A change in thinking
Dr. Wen said that the impact of COVID-19 on travel in recent years has raised questions about the value of tourism beyond lifestyle and economic factors.
“Tourism has been found to increase physical and psychological well-being,” he said.
“So, after COVID, it is a good time to identify the place of tourism in public health, and not only for healthy tourists, but also for vulnerable groups.”
Dr Wen said he hoped a new line of collaborative research could begin to examine how tourism can improve the lives of people with various conditions.
“We are trying to do something new to bring tourism and health science together,” he said.
See also
“There will have to be more empirical research and evidence to see if tourism can become one of the medical interventions for different diseases such as dementia or depression.
“So tourism is not just about traveling and having fun; We need to rethink the role that tourism plays in modern society.”
About this research news in psychology and mental health
Author: sam jeremic
Font: Edith Cowen University
Contact: Sam Jeremic – Edith Cowen University
Image: The image is in the public domain.
original research: Closed access.
“Tourism as a treatment for dementia based on positive psychologyby Jun Wen et al. tourism management
Summary
Tourism as a treatment for dementia based on positive psychology
No research in tourism or medicine has addressed the possible relationship between travel and medical treatment of dementia. Given the increasingly important role of tourism in society, an interdisciplinary team of tourism and dementia experts provide insights into the potential benefits of tourism for people with dementia.
This conceptual effort critically reviews the tourism and dementia literature and addresses relevant knowledge gaps. Tourism is presented as a possible way to improve the well-being of dementia patients as a complement to non-pharmacological interventions.
Consequently, a conceptual framework is proposed to highlight the link between tourism experiences and dementia interventions.
Future directions for interdisciplinary research are also outlined.
