Travel may do more than provide a break from work and routine. Research led by a Texas A&M University professor suggests vacations can reduce stress, boost productivity and strengthen relationships, with potential benefits for heart health.
Dr. James Petrick, a professor and associate department head for research in Texas A&M’s hospitality, hotel management and tourism department, said his team’s findings indicate travel can improve well-being in multiple ways, including making people feel healthier and more connected to others.
Early work on the broader benefits of travel was supported by grants from the U.S. Travel Association, Petrick said. A later phase focused specifically on heart health by tracking 20 students on a cruise. Participants wore smartwatches equipped with a health monitoring app developed by Texas A&M engineering professor Farzan Sasangohar, and students also kept hourly diaries of their activities.
Petrick said researchers used motion sensors in the watches to help determine what participants were doing and to compare those movements with heart-related readings.
The research drew on the cognitive activation theory of stress, which holds that stress responses depend in part on how well people believe they can handle challenges. Petrick said travel can create a cycle of excitement and recovery, with novel experiences increasing stimulation and downtime allowing for rest.
The findings also suggest that longer vacations may provide more durable stress relief than short trips, with weeklong breaks offering greater benefits than three-day getaways, Petrick said.
He said additional research is needed to better understand how extended travel affects people over longer periods, including whether time away from home eventually creates new sources of stress, such as missed routines or mounting work backlogs.
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