Adventure tourism involvement and quality of life: The sequential mediating roles of experience quality and happiness in river tracing

BACKGROUND: Adventure sports tourism is becoming more popular and is correlated with several psychological benefits for participants. Some of these benefits are common in traditional sports, whereas others are specifically linked to the adventures or interactions with nature that are distinctive to this type of tourism. The psychological experience and quality of life of participants in adventure sports tourism have garnered increasing research attention. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to clarify how involvement affects tourists' quality of life within the context of adventure tourism by employing river tracing in Guangdong Province as a case study. The specific research objectives are as follows: (1) to examine the direct effects of involvement (I) on experience quality (EQ), tourists' happiness (TH), and quality of life (QL); (2) to investigate the mediating roles of experience quality and happiness, including independent mediation and sequential mediation; and (3) within the framework of self-determination theory, to reveal how adventure tourism promotes happiness and quality of life by satisfying the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, thereby increasing the theoretical understanding. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY: A convenience sampling method was used to collect data from individuals with experience in river tracing in Guangdong Province, China. A total of 625 valid responses (19 to 41 years of age and above; 296 males and 329 females) were collected through onsite and online channels. We used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) for the data analysis. RESULTS: Measurement model analysis indicated satisfactory factor loadings between 0.803 and 0.929, with composite reliability (CR) values between 0.923 and 0.948, indicating acceptable internal consistency. The sequence of I → EQ → TH → QL was obtained (β = 0.128, p < 0.001), indicating substantial mediation. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that involvement, experience quality, and happiness among tourists are key factors for improving the quality of life of river tracing enthusiasts.