Understanding the relationship between travel satisfaction and subjective well-being considering the role of personality traits: A structural equation model

- Life evaluation has a positive impact on travel satisfaction.
- Self-disciplined personality has a positive impact on travel satisfaction.
- Age and gender indirectly influences travel satisfaction through self-disciplined personality.
- Travel satisfaction has effects on other life domains.

Using a structural equation model, this article examines to what extent subjective well-being or life satisfaction is influenced by travel satisfaction. To avoid confounding, satisfaction with other life domains, personal characteristics and personality traits are included in the model. In addition, the reverse effect of well-being on travel satisfaction is considered. To collect the data needed to estimate the model, a survey was designed and administered face-to-face in January 2015 in Xi'an, China using a random sampling procedure. After controlling for personality traits and significant socio-demographic variables, results indicate that travel satisfaction has a relatively small impact on subjective well-being. The reverse relationship is considerably stronger.