The relationship between memorable tourist experiences and subjective well-being, the mediating role of emotions, and the moderating role of psychological resilience

Tourism experiences have become recognized as an important factor, reflecting a positive relationship with subjective well-being. The Broaden-and-Build Theory suggests that positive experience, positive emotions, and yield lasting psychological benefits go together. However, the specific mechanisms through which memorable tourist experiences translate into subjective well-being via positive emotions have not been thoroughly explored, particularly the moderating role of psychological resilience in this process. This study used a questionnaire to gather valid responses from 665 university teachers, employing standardized scales to measure memorable tourist experiences, positive emotions, psychological resilience, and subjective well-being. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, and a moderated mediation model was constructed and examined. Memorable tourist experiences were significantly positively correlated with subjective well-being ( β = 0.436, t = 14.324, p < 0.001), with positive emotions playing an important mediating role. Additionally, psychological resilience significantly moderated the relationship between positive emotion and subjective well-being ( β = 0.261, t = 10.352, p < 0.001), indicating that individuals with higher psychological resilience are more adept at sustaining and integrate the positive emotions brought about by memorable tourist experiences, thereby exhibiting stronger subjective well-being. This study offers a clearer understanding of the link between memorable tourist experiences and subjective well-being, extending the Broaden-and-Build Theory’s application to tourism. The findings also indicate associations between positive emotions during tourism experience and university teachers’ well-being, with psychological resilience moderating these associations, providing a new perspective for practical interventions in university teacher care.