Motivations and constraints of adult children supporting senior parents’ travel in China

Abstract The escalating demographic shift towards an aging population in China underscores a critical need to examine the intergenerational support dynamics within the senior tourism sector, a realm previously dominated by studies focusing on the experiences of senior tourists in Western contexts. This research pivots to scrutinize the roles of adult children as facilitators of their elderly parents’ travel, integrating a culturally contextual framework that leverages social exchange theory, social support theory, and leisure constraint theory. Based on a quantitative survey of 505 participants, this study examines how travel support motivations influence adult children’s supportive behaviors toward their senior parents’ travel, and whether travel support constraints moderate these relationships. Our findings highlight that while filial piety is less influential, novelty-seeking and recognition prominently drive support intentions. Unexpectedly, family togetherness has failed to predict support behaviors. Furthermore, the study reveals that health concerns substantially deter support, and travel support constraints uniquely influence the relationship between recognition and support intentions. Collectively, these insights contribute to a deeper theoretical understanding of family dynamics in senior tourism, tailored to the collectivist ethos of China.