The Socialization of Families Away from Home: Group Dynamics and Family Functioning on Holiday

The focus on individuals in tourism research has led to limited and fragmented research on family groups and their leisure experiences away from home. This article extends conceptual and theoretical understandings within family tourism research by offering a three-dimensional framework inclusive of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Leisure sciences 2014-03, Vol.36 (2), p.126-143
Main Authors: Schänzel, Heike A., Smith, Karen A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Children
family holidays
fathers
Group Dynamics
Holidays
Leisure
leisure experiences
New Zealand
Parents
Sex
sociality
Socialization
Tourism
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Summary:The focus on individuals in tourism research has led to limited and fragmented research on family groups and their leisure experiences away from home. This article extends conceptual and theoretical understandings within family tourism research by offering a three-dimensional framework inclusive of group perspectives. A whole-family methodology was used with 10 families (10 fathers, 10 mothers, and 20 children) in New Zealand as a more critical and holistic approach to tourism concepts. Empirical findings illustrate group dynamics along with the underrepresented generational perspectives of children and gender perspectives of fathers to provide insights into family functioning. This resulted in a three-layered model of family holiday experiences inclusive of group sociality. The collective intentionality of family togetherness on holiday is contrasted with more balanced modes in own time, highlighting the complexity of socialization within tourism theory and practice.
ISSN:0149-0400
1521-0588
DOI:10.1080/01490400.2013.857624