From distance to satisfaction: a two-stage mediation model of digital interaction in fashion heritage museums

Purpose This study examines how digital interaction types mitigate leisure constraints and enhance visitor satisfaction in fashion heritage museums, proposing and testing a two-stage psychological mediation model. Design/methodology/approach Employing a between-subjects experimental design, field and online surveys (N = 327) were conducted at a Chinese fashion heritage exhibition. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three interaction types: social interaction, observational imitation, or self-service. Findings The interaction type directly predicted telepresence and had a negative impact on satisfaction. Telepresence fostered both introspective experience and satisfaction, while introspective experiences further boosted satisfaction. Crucially, a chain mediation was identified: telepresence and these experiences sequentially transformed the initial negative direct effect of interaction type into a positive indirect effect. Descriptive analyses further revealed nuanced patterns, imitation yielded the highest telepresence, while self-service produced the greatest satisfaction. Originality/value This research advances leisure constraint theory by re-conceptualizing constraints as psychologically reducible distance and introducing a sequential telepresence-introspection mechanism. It offers practical segmentation strategies for designing digital experiences that cater to diverse visitor needs and psychological pathways.