Effects of pre-existing family dynamics on emerging adult college students’ emotions over the course of fall break

Travel is considered a self-initiated intervention to increase happiness; and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) is one form of travel encompassing a quarter of the world's travel market. This study explores the intersections between VFR and emotional experiences in the travel context. Specifically, it examines the effects of pre-existing family dynamics on the emotional experiences of emerging adults traveling to visit families during the fall break. The results show a significant impact of family dynamics on emotions during VFR, with positive emotions following a linear decline during the travel period, and negative emotions following a pattern consistent with the Holiday Happiness Curve. This study not only presents a detailed examination of interactions between family dynamic variables (e.g. communication, flexibility) and positive and negative emotions during VFR, but also leads the way in linking two largely important yet understudied areas within travel research.