Leisure travel and life satisfaction in a Dutch sample

People generally go on vacation to improve their life satisfaction. However, the association between life satisfaction and leisure travel is poorly understood, partly because of methodological limitations in previous research. In the present study, we examined the longitudinal association between life satisfaction and leisure travel using data from a representative Dutch sample ( N = 12,027) gathered annually over 8 years. We specifically compared travelers and non-travelers on their levels and growth in life satisfaction over time using a growth model framework. We also examined whether more frequent and international (vs. domestic) travel was associated with life satisfaction among travelers. Travelers and non-travelers were similar in levels and changes in life satisfaction. Traveling more frequently and internationally was related to greater life satisfaction during the year of travel, but not stable levels or long-term trajectories. Our findings suggest that vacations are only positively linked to life satisfaction in the short term.