Descriptive Statistics
The researcher indicated the demographic information based on 302 copies of questionnaires. Those sections of descriptive statistics consisted of 5 demographic factors including gender, age, marital status, monthly income and education level. Please refer to table 4.1.
First, in terms of gender, among the 302 subjects, 81were male (26.8%), and 221 were female (73.2 %). Second, the range of 20-25 was 19.2%, 26-30 was 50.7%, 31-35 was 20.5% , 36-40 was 6.3%, 41-45 was 1.3%, 46-50 was 1% and the subjects older than 50 was 1%. The results showed that the majority was at 26-30 years old. The percentage of age older than 46 were 2% but for avoiding errors in analysis and meeting this study’s purpose, the value of frequency is suggested to be more than five (Chen, 2014). Therefore, the researcher decided to combine this group with another (41- 45) so that the percentage of age more than 41 was 3.3%. Third, about marital status, 253 were single (83.8%), 47 got married (15.6%), divorced or separated were 0.7%. Based on the same reason, the last two groups (divorced / separated and other) were combined so the percentage was 0.7%. Fourth, about income, 47 thought their income was at low level (15.6%), 208 was at medium level (68.9%), 40 was at average level (13.2%) and 7 was at high level (2.3%). Fifth, as to education level, none was below junior high school, 4 were at senior high school (1.3%) , 186 were at Bachelor degree (61.6%), 103 was at master degree(34.1%), 9 were at Ph.D. degree (3%). The first two groups were also combined so the percentage was 1.3%.
44
Table 4.1.
Demographic Information of Sample (N=302)
Variables Description Frequency Percentage (%)
Gender Male 81 26.8
Female 221 73.
Age 20-25 58 19.2
26-30 153 50.7
31-35 62 20.5
36-40 19 6.3
41+ 10 3.3
Marital Status Single 253 83.8
Married 47 15.6
Divorced, separated or other 2 0.7
Monthly income Low (25% below) 47 15.6
Medium (25%~50%) 208 68.9
Average (50%~75%) 40 13.2
High (75% up) 7 2.3
Education level Senior High school or below 4 1.3
College/University 186 61.6
Master 103 34.1
Ph.D 9 3
45
Validity and Reliability
In this study, the researcher tested the discrimination of items by item analysis and Cronbach alpha value. The critical ratio (CR) of most items was significant with P value less than 0.05, which meant most items could discriminate the two groups (high scores and low scores).
Table 4.2.
Item Analysis of Serious Leisure-Travel (N=302)
Dimension Item t Value (CR)
Perseverance Even if the life is busy, I still try every means to travel.
10.856***
Even if I have to spend much time and put much effort into searching information before travel, I still enjoy it.
10.762***
Even if there are some other difficulties, I still want to travel.
11.380***
Career Travel is already one part of my life. 14.467***
I think travel could help me find my life goals. 13.950***
If I can’t travel, I will feel life is boring. 11.140***
Personal efforts
To improve travel skills, I am willing to spend money buying related books or magazines.
10.428***
During the travel, I become more capable of dealing with the problems.
11.672***
To plan an ideal travel, I am willing to spend time and energy planning it.
12.920***
Durable individual benefits
Through travel, I make more foreign friends. 8.869***
Through travel, I obtain opportunities of self-fulfillment.
13.104***
Through travel, I obtain more mental feedback such as identification or sense of achievement.
12.706***
Strong identification activity
I enjoy travel-related websites, blogs or programs. 10.016***
I am willing to share my travel story with others. 10.687***
I think travel is meaningful. No other leisure activities could replace it.
10.407***
Unique ethos Gathering with people loving travel makes me speak 12.891***
(Continued)
46
The critical ratio values (CR) of table 4.3 were significant with P value less than 0.05, which meant all items of social support could discriminate the two groups (high scores and low scores).
Table 4.3.
Item Analysis of Social Support (N=302)
Dimension Item t Value (CR)
Supervisors My supervisor is supportive when I have a work problem.
10.130***
I feel comfortable bringing up personal or family issues with my supervisors.
11.362***
My supervisor really cares about the effects that work demands have on my personal and family lives.
10.869***
Families My family really tries to help me. 8.862***
I get the emotional help and support I need from my family.
12.393***
I can talk about my problems with my family. 12.226***
Friends My friends really try to help me. 9.491***
I can count on my friends when things go wrong. 11.923***
I have friends with whom I can share my joys and sorrows.
10.626***
Notes:
The dimensions of social support include supervisors, families and friends
*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
my mind.
I like to join activities with those who love travel. 12.194***
After getting alone with those who love travel for a long time, we have similar values.
13.019***
Notes:
The dimensions of serious leisure-travel include perseverance, career, personal efforts, durable individual benefits, strong identification with the activity and unique ethos.
*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
Table 4.2 (Continued)
47
The critical ratio values (CR) of table 4.4 were significant with P value less than 0.05, which meant all items of ICC-IR could discriminate the two groups(high scores and low scores).
Table 4.4.
Item Analysis of ICC-IR (N=302)
In well-being scale, point five means strongly agree and point one means strongly disagree. More points mean higher well-being. However, in table 4.5, the positive worded item “I am intensely interested in other people” is not significant. 177 employees chose points below three, which would decrease total points of well-being. Furthermore, 109 out of 177 employees chose point three, meaning “neutral.” It showed the content of this item or Chinese translation might make people confused.
Dimension Item t Value (CR)
ICC-IR I find it is easy to talk with people from different cultures.
20.615***
I find it is easy to get along with people from different cultures.
22.281***
I always know how to initiate a conversation when interacting with people from different cultures.
17.917***
I feel relaxed when interacting with people from different cultures
17.355***
I find it is easy to identify with my culturally different counterparts during our interaction.
13.124***
Notes:
ICC-IR = Intercultural communication competence- Interaction Relaxation.
*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
48
Table 4.5.
Item Analysis of Well-being (N=302)
Dimension Item t Value (CR)
Well-being I don't feel particularly pleased with the way I am.
(R)
12.742***
I am intensely interested in other people. -1.397 I feel that life is very rewarding. 10.477***
I have very warm feelings towards almost everyone. 10.842***
I rarely wake up feeling rested. (R) 4.423***
I am not particularly optimistic about the future. (R) 14.153***
I find most things amusing. 8.795***
I am always committed and involved. 8.265***
Life is good. 12.275***
I don't think that the world is a good place. (R) 7.947***
I laugh a lot. 9.110***
I am well satisfied about everything in my life. 14.060***
I don't think I look attractive. (R) 8.689***
There is a gap between what I would like to do and what I have done. (R)
8.180***
I am very happy. 13.041***
I find beauty in some things. 5.451***
I always have a cheerful effect on others. 6.798***
I can fit in everything I want to. 7.642***
I feel that I am not especially in control of my life.
(R)
10.383***
I feel able to take anything on. 11.753***
I feel fully mentally alert. 6.758***
I often experience joy and elation. 13.113***
I do not find it easy to make decisions. (R) 8.806***
I do not have a particular sense of meaning and purpose in my life. (R)
14.420***
I feel I have a great deal of energy. 14.778***
I usually have a good influence on events. 6.396***
I do not have fun with other people. (R) 8.079***
(Continued)
49
Refer to table 4.6; the coefficient of Cronbach α is from 0 to 1. Higher α means higher reliability and in researches, α value has to be more than 0.7. In this study, Cronbach α value of each scale is shown from table 4.7 to table 4.9.
Table 4.6.
The Evaluation Standard Criteria of Cronbach α
The range of α Meaning
1.0 > α ≥ 0.9 Excellent
0.9 > α ≥ 0.8 Good
0.8 > α ≥ 0.7 Acceptable
0.7> α ≥ 0.6 Questionable
0.6> α ≥ 0.5 Poor
0.5 > α ≥ 0.0 Unacceptable
The independent variable, serious leisure – travel, has 18 items within six dimensions.
Refer to table 4.7, the overall Cronbach α value was 0.901.Cronbach α values of two dimensions (personal efforts and strong identification with the activity) were less than 0.7.
However, Briggs & Cheek (1986) pointed out Cronbach α is sensitive to number of items so if mean inter-item correlations is from 0.2 to 0.4, the reliability is still acceptable. The mean of personal efforts was 0.396 and strong identification was 0.333, which were in the 0.2-0.4 range. Therefore, all dimensions reached acceptable level.
I don't feel particularly healthy. (R) 12.273***
I do not have particularly happy memories of the past. (R)
8.672***
Notes:
*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
Table 4.5 (Continued)
50
Table 4.7.
Reliability Analysis: Serious Leisure-Travel (N=302)
In table 4.8, the moderators, social support and ICC-IR, have nine items within three dimensions and five items respectively. The Cronbach α values of social support dimensions (supervisors, families and friends) were all more than 0.7 and the overall Cronbach α value was 0.774. Besides, The Cronbach α values of ICC-IR was 0.873.
Table 4.8.
Reliability Analysis: ICC-IR (N=302)
Scale Number of Items α
Social Support 9 .774
Supervisors 3 .779
Families 3 .847
Friends 3 .848
ICC-Interaction Relaxation 5 .873
Notes:
Social support includes supervisors, families and friends.
Scale Number of Items α
Serious Leisure - Travel 18 .901
Perseverance 3 .775
Career 3 .774
Personal efforts 3 .634
Durable individual benefits 3 .719
Strong identification with the activity 3 .559
Unique ethos 3 .838
Notes:
Serious leisure-travel includes perseverance, career, personal efforts, durable individual benefits, strong identification with the activity and unique ethos.
51
The dependent variable, well-being, has 29 items in one dimension and the overall Cronbach α value was 0.89, shown in table 4.9.
Table 4.9.
Reliability Analysis: Well-being (N=302)
According to Li (2011), if Cronbach α value is more than 0.7, then this scale is acceptable in the evaluation standard of reliability. Therefore, the scales used in this study were with acceptable reliability.
Correlation Analysis
Pearson correlation and point-biserial correlation were conducted to understand the correlation among demographic variables, serious leisure-travel and ICC-IR. The strength of correlation refers to Li (2011) as table 4.10 shows
Table 4.10.
Strength of Correlation Coefficient
The range of r value Strength
r = 0.10 ~ 0.29 or r = - 0.10 ~ - 0.29 Small r = 0.30 ~ 0.49 or r = - 0.30 ~ - 0.49 Medium r = 0.50 ~ 1.00 or r = - 0.50 ~ - 1.00 Large
Well-being and Demographic Variables
The researcher conducted correlation analysis to examine the relationship between demographic variables and dependent variable (Y= well-being). In this analysis, dummy variables were used in gender, education, marital status and income. The results showed all variables had no significant correlation on well-being.
Scale Number of Items α
Well-being 29 .890
52
Well-being and Serious Leisure-Travel (Independent Variable)
Correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between independent variable (X= serious leisure-travel) and dependent variable (Y= well-being). In table 4.11, the correlation between Serious Leisure- Travel and well-being was significant and positive (r
= .278, p < .001). Besides, the researcher also examined the relationship among six dimensions of serious leisure-travel and well-being. The results showed all dimensions had positive and significant correlation to well-being. Especially, compare to other dimensions, durable individual benefits had stronger correlation with well-being.
Table 4.11.
Correlation of Well-being and Serious Leisure-Travel (N=302) Variables SL-
2. The dimensions of serious leisure-travel include perseverance, career, personal efforts, durable individual benefits, strong identification with the activity and unique ethos.
*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
Well-being, ICC-IR and Social Support (Moderators)
Correlation analysis was conducted to check the relationship between dependent variable (Y= well-being) and two moderators (M=social support and ICC-IR). In table 4.12, the correlation between well-being and social support was significantly positive (r = .326, p
< .001) and ICC-IR (r = .291, p < .001). Besides, social support has three dimensions, supervisors (r = .150, p < .01), families(r = .294, p < .001) and friends (r = .259, p < .001).
These results showed there was a positive relationship between dimensions and well-being.
53
Table 4.12.
Correlation of Well-being, ICC-IR and Social Support (N=302)
Variables Social support Supervisors Families Friends ICC-IR
Well-being .326*** .150** .294*** .259*** .291***
Notes:
1. The dimensions of social support include supervisors, families and friends.
2. ICC-IR= Intercultural communication competence- Interaction Relaxation.
*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
From table 4.11 to 4.12, H1 to H1-6 are all supported. Please refer to table 4.13.
Table 4.13. H1 Serious leisure – travel positively related to
well-being.
Accepted
H1-1 Perseverance is positively related to well-being. Accepted H1-2 Career is positively related to well-being. Accepted H1-3 Durable individual benefits are positively related to
well-being.
Accepted
H1-4 Personal efforts are positively related to well-being. Accepted H1-5 Unique ethos is positively related to well-being. Accepted H1-6 Strong identification is positively related to
well-being.
Accepted
Regression Analysis
From correlation analysis, H1 was supported, which meant serious leisure – travel positively related to well-being. In this part, the researcher conducted regression analysis to examine the relationship between dimensions and well-being again. Besides, hierarchical regression was used to examine the moderating effect of two moderators, social support and ICC-IR. Well-being was seen as an outcome variable (criterion variable) and serious leisure-travel, social support and ICC-IR were seen as predictor variables.
54
Dimensions of Serious Leisure-Travel and Well-being
From table 4.14, all β values were positive numbers and all p values were less than 0.01, which meant those six dimensions were all positively and significantly related to well-being (perseverance β = 0.176, p < 0.01 ; career β = 0.212, p < 0.001 ; durable individual benefits β = 0.311, P < 0.001; personal efforts β = 0.156, p < 0.01 ; unique ethos β
= 0.262 , p < 0.001 ; strong identification β = 0.126 , p < 0.05). However, R2 of all dimensions were not high.
Table 4.14.
Regression Analysis of Serious Leisure-Travel (N=302)
Moderating Effect of Social Support
Hypothesis 2 was examined in this regression equation. First, demographic variables were put into the first step. Since nominal scale (variable marriage) is not access to regression equation, the researcher set dummy variable on marriage. In original frequency table, single group was 253, married group was 47 and divorced group was 2 (three groups) and based on study’s need, the researcher divided three groups into two main groups: single/divorced group was set as 0 and married group as 1. Second, independent variable and moderator were
SL-travel Perseverance Career Durable individual
1. Dependent Variable : well-being 2. SL- travel = Serious leisure – travel
3. The dimensions of serious leisure-travel include perseverance, career, personal efforts, durable individual benefits, strong identification with the activity and unique ethos.
*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
55
put into the next step. Finally, the interaction of product term (independent variable x moderator) was placed into the last step. Please refer to table 4.15. On page 51, correlation analysis showed there was no significant correlation between demographic variables and well-being. In regression, the result was the same. Besides, the result also showed there was no significant moderating effect of social support (β= .088). Therefore, Hypothesis 2 was not accepted.
Table 4.15.
Regressions Analysis of Moderating Effect of Social Support on the Relationship Among Demographic variables, SL-travel and Well-being(N=302)
Model 1 Model 2 Model 3
Variable β Β β
Step 1
Age -.025 .033 .038
Gender .027 -.038 -.025
Education level .185** .174** .174**
Marriage -.032 -.059 -.062
Income .132* .089 .089
Step 2
SL-travel .195** .204***
Social support .287*** .265***
Step 3
SL-travel X Social support
.088
R2 .058 .199 .206
AdjR2 .042 .180 .184
R2 .058 .141 .007
F 3.620** 25.732*** 2.614
Notes:
1. Dummy coding: Marriage (single/divorced: 0; married: 1), Gender (female: 1; male: 0) 2. SL- travel = Serious leisure – travel
*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
56
Moderating Effect of ICC-IR
Hypothesis 3 was examined in this regression equation. First, demographic variables were put into the first step. Since nominal scale (variable marriage) is not access to regression equation, the researcher conducted the same approach, dummy variable, shown on page 54, moderating effect of social support. Second, independent variable and moderator were put into the next step. Finally, the interaction of product term (independent variable x moderator) was put into the last step. Please refer to table 4.16. The result also showed there was no significant correlation between demographic variables and well-being and no significant moderating effect of ICC-IR (β= .013). Therefore, Hypothesis 3 was not accepted.
Table 4.16.
Regressions analysis of Moderating Effect of ICC-IR on the Relationship Among Demographic variables, SL-travel and Well-being(N=302)
Model 1 Model 2 Model 3
Variable Β Β β
Step 1
Age -.025 -.025 -.024
Gender .027 -.004 -.003
Education level .185** .148* .149*
Marriage -.032 .005 .005
Income .132* .073 .072
Step 2
SL-travel .218*** .217***
ICC-IR .200** .198**
Step 3
SL-travel X ICC-IR .013
R2 .058 .161 .161
AdjR2 .042 .140 .138
R2 .058 .103 .000
F 3.620** 17.837*** .056
Notes:
(Continued)
57
1. 1. SL- travel = Serious leisure – travel
2. 2. ICC-IR = Intercultural communication competence- Interaction Relaxation
3. Dummy coding: Marriage (single/divorced: 0; married: 1), Gender (female: 1; male: 0)
*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.
From table 4.15 to table 4.16, the results showed moderating effect of social support and ICC-IR was not significant. All regression results for H1-H3 were shown in Table 4.17.
Table 4.17. H1-1 Perseverance is positively related to well-being. Accepted H1-2 Career is positively related to well-being. Accepted H1-3 Durable individual benefits are positively related to
well-being.
Accepted
H1-4 Personal efforts are positively related to well-being. Accepted H1-5 Unique ethos is positively related to well-being. Accepted H1-6 Strong identification is positively related to
well-being.
Accepted
H2 Social support has positive moderating effect on the relationship between travel and well-being.
Not accepted
H3 ICC-IR has positive moderating effect on the relationship between travel and well-being.
Not accepted
Discussions
Carruthers & Hood (2004) pointed out having recreation is beneficial to decrease negative emotion and increase positive thinking and life satisfaction and both work and leisure are essential for people’s life (Iso-Ahola & Mannell, 2004). Therefore, nowadays the greater number of modern people tries to make a balance between work and life. For example, people would join some leisure activities to bring them happiness and release pressure in daily lives. Furthermore, literature showed that more involvement in leisure activity will strengthen more satisfaction in people’s life (Heo, Stebbins, Kim, & Lee, 2013). Leisure
Table 4.16 (Continued)
58
activity includes many kinds and this study adopted travel as the main leisure activity because more and more Taiwanese people travel either in Taiwan or overseas year by year to release stress. Travel has been one of main leisure activities in modern Taiwanese hearts. Besides, in this study, the leisure activity, travel, was mainly focused on Taiwanese employees’
involvement level and what the relationship was between serious leisure - travel and their well-being. The final results showed there was a positive relationship between serious leisure-travel and well-being, which was consistent with the study of Chen, Ou, & Ou, (2009), pointing out greater serious leisure leads to a higher well-being.
The correlation analysis of this study showed social support was positively related to well-being, which was consistent with Cohen & Syme (1985), indicating social support has become an issue because it influences people’s happiness. In workplace, the relationship between supervisors and employees was also important. Lin, Lu, Wu & Wu (2012) pointed out perceived organizational support has a positive effect on employees’ well-being and this wellbeing also moderates the relationship between job performance and perceived organizational support. In terms of ICC, Zapf (1991) indicated people would feel well-being increasingly after they overcame culture shock and were getting used to the new environment, feeling that strangeness became normal. Ruben and Kealey (1979) said such an adaptation period is similar to psychological adjustment. In this study, the results also showed there was a positive relationship between ICC-IR and well-being.
In regression analysis, the researcher set 0 and 1 on marriage as dummy variables and in this equation, all demographic variables including marriage (dummy variable) were put into step one, then independent variables and moderators were on step two and the last step was for interaction of product term. From table 4.15 and table 4.16, most demographic variables had no significance on well-being (dependent variable) except for education level. About the moderators, social support and ICC-IR had no moderating effect on the relationship between travel and well-being so hypothesis 2 and 3 were not accepted.
59