The Impact of Self-Service User Interaction Experience (SSUIE) On Subjective Wellbeing

Author

Sherrie Tennessee, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Award Date

12-1-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

William F. Harrah College of Hospitality

First Committee Member

Hyelin Kim

Second Committee Member

Mehmet Erdem

Third Committee Member

Zihui Ma

Fourth Committee Member

Anjala Krishen

Number of Pages

136

Abstract

The study investigated the role of wellness technology in wellness tourism through a mixed-methods approach. Qualitative interviews with 11 spa directors revealed five key themes: enhanced guest experience through technological integration, complementary relationship between technology and traditional services, operational efficiency and revenue generation, personalization capabilities, and evolving perceptions of wellness from luxury to necessity. The quantitative phase expanded upon the qualitative findings by examining how Self-Service User Interaction Experiences (SSUIE) influence wellness value, customer satisfaction, subjective wellbeing, and behavioral intentions among 230 wellness tourism consumers. The sample comprised predominantly female participants (68.3%), with Millennials (44.78%) and Generation X (28.26%) representing the largest age cohorts. Massage chairs emerged as the most utilized self-service technology, followed by red light therapy and infrared saunas. Results showed interaction comfort (β = 0.296, p < 0.001) and pleasant experience (β = 0.263, p < 0.001) significantly influenced hedonic value, while sense of closeness (β = 0.295, p < 0.001) and perceived competence (β = 0.222, p < 0.05) impacted utilitarian value. Hedonic value demonstrated stronger effects on customer satisfaction (β = 0.623, p < 0.001) compared to utilitarian value (β = 0.162, p < 0.01). Customer satisfaction significantly influenced both subjective wellbeing and behavioral intentions (β = 0.473, p < 0.001), with subjective wellbeing showing notable correlation to behavioral intention (β = 0.262, p < 0.001). Generational analysis revealed consistently stronger relationships between SSUIE dimensions and wellness values among Gen Z compared to Baby Boomers. The findings provide valuable insights for wellness tourism providers implementing self-service technologies.

Keywords

wellness; wellness technology; wellness tourism

Disciplines

Hospitality Administration and Management | Leisure Studies | Tourism and Travel

File Format

PDF

File Size

999 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Repository Citation

Tennessee, Sherrie, "The Impact of Self-Service User Interaction Experience (SSUIE) On Subjective Wellbeing" (2024). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 5207.
http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/38330420

Rights

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