Navigating travel constraints for individuals with mental health conditions

ABSTRACT

While previous accessible travel studies focused primarily on physical disabilities, this research examined the perceptions and challenges related to travel experiences among individuals with mental health conditions. Grounded on the leisure constraint model, this study captured the distinct travel constraints and experiences shared by individuals with mental health conditions.

Utilising the Reddit API, we collected data from several subreddits that cater to various mental health conditions, including autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and depression. Through the application of topic modelling and topic network analysis, 30 themes and 7 communities emerged, spotlighting the pre- and during-travel constraints of individuals with mental health conditions. The resulting travel constraints were identified, leading to their categorisation as intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural constraints. This categorisation lays the foundation for developing strategies that can enhance the travel experiences and engagements of individuals with mental health conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Travel
• constraints
• mental health conditions
• Reddit
• accessible tourism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Gachon University research fund of 2022 (GCU-202206030001).