Toward a theory of backpacker personal development: Cross-cultural validation of the BPD scale

This study aims at building a theory of backpacker personal development (BPD) by cross-culturally validating the scale developed by Chen, Bao, and Huang (2014). While the original scale was developed by studying Chinese backpackers, this study focuses on Western backpackers to further validate the scale and advance the studies of backpacker personal development. The study involves two samples in two stages (Study 1, n = 382; Study 2, n = 120) to verify the psychometric properties of the backpacker personal development scale (BPDS). Results show that the five dimensions of the BPDS (i.e., capability, emotion, skill, worldview, and self-consciousness), also apply to Western backpackers; the BPDS demonstrates cross-cultural validity and reliability in measuring backpacker personal development. The current research suggests that Western backpackers see backpacking as a more 'individualistic' way of personal development.