Exploring the pathways from outdoor recreation motivation to life satisfaction and quality of life: mediation and moderation perspectives

Purpose This research examines how outdoor recreation motivation (ORM) affect tourists' activity preferences and how they impact life satisfaction and quality of life. Based on the self-determination theory and place attachment theory, the study develops and tests an integrative model, which investigates direct, mediating and moderating relationships between outdoor motivations, activity preferences and place attachment. Design/methodology/approach The data were collected from 418 tourists visiting the North Coast of Egypt. The proposed model was tested using structural equation modelling to test the hypotheses. Findings Results show that ORM has significant effects on the tourists' preference for outdoor, cultural and entertainment activities. These activity preferences positively influence life satisfaction, which, in turn, enhances perceived quality of life. Further, place attachment significantly moderated the relationships between activity preferences and life satisfaction with an overall focus on place attachment towards the destination. Originality/value This study combines the two theories, self-determination theory and place attachment theory, to examine the mediation effect of activity preference between ORM and life satisfaction, and the moderation effect of place attachment on this relationship. In extending this model to a non-Western, developing coastal destination, the study also broadens the scope of the model to a context that remains unexplored by recreation and well-being researchers. The results can be helpful for destination managers who would like to diversify the recreational products offered to improve the satisfaction and quality of life of tourists.