Gibson Heather | University of Florida (original) (raw)
Papers by Gibson Heather
Australasian Journal on Ageing, 2012
The number and percent of older people in developed countries continue to grow, thanks to medical... more The number and percent of older people in developed countries continue to grow, thanks to medical advances and decreases in fertility and mortality rates. And that means that tomorrow's recreation and leisure professionals will be more challenged than ever to meet the needs of an increasingly older culturally diverse population. "Leisure and Aging: Theory and Practice" provides students and professionals with a balanced perspective of current knowledge as it presents cutting-edge research from the fields of both gerontology and leisure studies. Written by authors from various disciplines who represent an international who's-who in leisure and aging research, this text - explores theories in leisure and aging; - bridges the gap between research and application, arming professionals with tools to navigate diverse cultures; and - offers insight into delivery of leisure services in older adult communities and long-term care environments. Each chapter features learning objectives, study questions, case studies, exercises, and relevant readings. The book is supplemented by online ancillaries, including an instructor guide, test package, and a presentation package with photos, illustrations, and tables from the text. Together, the text and online ancillaries help students connect theories and practice as they prepare for future roles in their chosen fields. "Leisure and Aging" is presented in five sections. Part I introduces global perspectives on leisure and aging, while part II examines the relevance of leisure in an aging context. Part III explores the effects of aging on physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being and health. Parts IV and V delve into the role of community in aging and leisure and long-term care and leisure. Written for undergraduate students, professors, and professionals in recreation, leisure, gerontology, and aging, "Leisure and Aging" provides a wealth of knowledge on various aspects of life for older people and the role of leisure in their lives. The text helps students think critically about a phase of life that seems remote from their own and provides perspective to their understanding of aging and leisure.
Journal of Leisure Research, 2013
As a freely chosen activity intended to generate pleasure and enjoyment, sex is an important huma... more As a freely chosen activity intended to generate pleasure and enjoyment, sex is an important human experience associated with a sense of “normality” and well-being. However, depression and antidepressants are typically associated with decreased libido and diminished sexual functioning. Drawing upon netnography and constructivist grounded theory, this study explored how sex is perceived and experienced by people with depression who participate in on-line depression communities. Analysis identified five themes dealing with sex, antidepressants, relationships, loving oneself and others, and sex as a resource for coping. Demonstrating that sex loses its qualities as a leisure activity, the findings suggested a complex and multidimensional paradox of sex as leisure in coping with depression, which involves not only individuals with depression but also their significant others.
Journal of Leisure Research, 2012
This study is part of a three-year long project working with Bike Florida Inc. The project is unf... more This study is part of a three-year long project working with Bike Florida Inc. The project is unfunded but provided an opportunity for access to the participants of Bike Florida (2005, 2006 and 2007) in return for the collection of event evaluation data for the event managers. Thanks go to a series of graduate assistants who worked on this project over the years including Christine Qi, Seohee Chang (co-author) and Sung Jin Kang who worked on the 2007 qualitative data phase. Presentations of different aspects of this project have been made at various academic conferences over the years including the Leisure Research Symposium, North American Society of Sport Management, and has been referenced in various international key notes delivered by the lead author. Thanks to the Department of Tourism, University of Otago, New Zealand for their hospitality enjoyed during the development of this manuscript.
Journal of Sport Management, 2008
Although there is growing awareness of the relationship between hosting mega-sporting-events and ... more Although there is growing awareness of the relationship between hosting mega-sporting-events and destination image, there is little empirical evidence documenting what images people hold before an event. The purpose of this study was to investigate the images young Americans hold of China both as a tourist destination and as the host of the 2008 Olympic Games. Specifically, the relationships among destination image, travel intentions, and tourist characteristics were explored. A total of 350 college students were surveyed before the close of the Athens Olympic Games. Overall, the respondents perceived China and the Beijing Olympic Games positively. Destination image was significantly (p < .05) predictive of the intention to travel to China and the Olympic Games. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that destination image partially mediated the relationship between past international travel experience and intention to travel. The theoretical and practical implications of thes...
Journal of Leisure Research, 2015
, for his valuable comments on the statistical analysis in this paper. This project was partially... more , for his valuable comments on the statistical analysis in this paper. This project was partially funded by the Bill Sims Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant from the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute at the University of Florida. Likewise, the authors would like to thank study participants for sharing their valuable perspectives on the researched topic.
Journal of Leisure Research, 2013
This project was partially funded by the Bill Sims Faculty Research Grant from the Eric Friedheim... more This project was partially funded by the Bill Sims Faculty Research Grant from the Eric Friedheim Tourism at the University of Florida. Likewise, the authors would like to thank study participants for sharing their travel stories and providing valuable insights on the researched topic.
Leisure Studies, 2014
ABSTRACT Women’s sexual behaviour in leisure-travel contexts is an under-researched area. Most at... more ABSTRACT Women’s sexual behaviour in leisure-travel contexts is an under-researched area. Most attention has focused on commercial forms of sex/romance tourism. The purpose of this study was to address women’s sexual behaviour in tourism, with both steady and casual sexual partner/s, by focusing on their perceptions and related meanings. Drawing upon constructivist grounded theory, 21 in-depth interviews with secular and traditional Israeli Jewish women were analysed using a Foucauldian lens, which incorporated technologies of self, inversions of sexual roles and heterotopia. The findings reveal that for some women, sexual behavior in tourism is an arena for self-exploration, resistance and self-transformation. The complexity of the inversions of sexual roles is illustrated via the triplex of mind, language and body, that combined produce a counter-discourse to social stereotypes associated with women’s sexual behaviour in their home environments.
Sport Management Review, 2012
Tourism Management, 2015
h i g h l i g h t s Understanding sexual risk-taking based on context, likelihood, and consequenc... more h i g h l i g h t s Understanding sexual risk-taking based on context, likelihood, and consequences. Identification of tourist experiences conducive to sexual risk-taking. Assessment of touristic factors facilitating sexual risk-taking. Evaluation of sexual activities perceived as risky for tourists. Clarification of rewards sought from sexual risk-taking in tourism.
Tourism Management, 2011
Increasingly, perceived risk is part of a destination's image. This is particularly true for Afri... more Increasingly, perceived risk is part of a destination's image. This is particularly true for Africa. This study investigated images and risks associated with Uganda and whether exposure to Uganda's official tourism website could induce image change. A classic two group randomized experimental design was used. Exposure to Uganda's official tourism website was the intervention. Pre-test images, formed prior to website exposure were negative for both groups, and Uganda was perceived as a risky destination. Posttest images for the experimental group, formed after exposure to the website, were significantly more positive and perceived risk was reduced. Post-test images and perceived risk for the control group remained the same. Five underlying dimensions of perceived risk in Uganda were identified. It appears that by addressing these underlying dimensions, African destinations could use the web to better manage image and perceived risk. More integration between the image and risk literatures is recommended.
Tourism Management, 2015
ABSTRACT Tourist experiences have been conceptualized as heterotopias, and liminoid contra-normat... more ABSTRACT Tourist experiences have been conceptualized as heterotopias, and liminoid contra-normative settings offering a license for thrills, situational disinhibition, and sexual experimentation. The purpose of this study was to explore the links between tourism and young women's sexual behavior, focusing on their perceptions of sexual risk-taking in tourism and its consequences. Transcendental phenomenology was implemented to grasp the uniqueness of the individual experiences and assess the universal meanings of the phenomenon, proceeding through the stages of epoch e, phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, and synthesis. The findings of fifteen in-depth interviews reveal that women's sexual risk-taking in tourism is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon involving physical, sexual health, social, emotional, mental/self-perceptional, cultural, and legal aspects. Clarifying the dimensions of sexual risk-taking in tourism and its consequences benefits the literature in terms of shedding light on an under-researched topic and provides information for health education/intervention programs aimed at addressing sexual risk behaviors in tourism.
Tourism Management, 2013
Applying image transfer related to sponsorship theory and the cognitiveeaffective model of consum... more Applying image transfer related to sponsorship theory and the cognitiveeaffective model of consumer behavior, this study explores how the deployment of a socially responsible program by a multinational (non-governmental) sport organization impacts the image of a mega sport event. Using the 2010 FIFA World Cup as the research context, the hypothesized model is tested among a sample of international sport tourists (N ¼ 6606) from all nine host cities (ten stadiums) in South Africa during the tournament. The structural model results demonstrate that: (1) tourists' familiarity with the 'Win in Africa, with Africa' program, and (2) the perception of FIFA as a socially responsible organization influence event image and one form of consumer patronage.
Sport Management Review, 2012
Leisure Sciences, 2011
... Their findings seem to suggest that sports, physical activities, or outdoor recreation may ha... more ... Their findings seem to suggest that sports, physical activities, or outdoor recreation may have a higher level of consistency between leisure and tourism contexts compared with other activities. ... Journal of Marketing Research , 19: 505516. ...
Journal of Sport & Tourism, 2009
The issue of risk associated with mega-event tourism has been receiving increased attention. The ... more The issue of risk associated with mega-event tourism has been receiving increased attention. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between risk perceptions and travel intentions associated with an Olympic Games' host country, using the Beijing Games as a case study. To control for the influence of individual backgrounds, this study focused on a homogeneous population, students below 30 years of age, US born and raised, and enrolled at a university in the US. Research participants (N ¼ 350) responded to a questionnaire designed to measure perceived risks, travel intentions, international travel experience, tourist role, and demographics. A factor analysis revealed four perceived risk factors: Personal Safety, Cultural Risk, Socio-psychological Risk, and Violence Risk. Utilizing the factor scores, regression analyses revealed that Violence Risk and Socio-psychological Risk had significantly (p , 0.05) negative impacts on participants' intention to visit China as a tourist. Although not statistically significant, the four risk factors were negatively predictive of the intention to attend the Olympic Games in China. The perceived risk factors were further found to be related to gender and tourist role types. Discussions are focused on the implications of these research findings to mega event management and promotions of host countries as tourism destinations.
Journal of Sport & Tourism, 2011
... is culturally very different, (4) has periodic episodes of war, violence and crime and lastly... more ... is culturally very different, (4) has periodic episodes of war, violence and crime and lastly (5 ... Scripting the nation: Sport, mega events, foreign policy and state building in post-apartheid SouthAfrica. ... associated with perceived risk, an idea which would certainly be of interest to SA. ...
Journal of Sport & Tourism, 2010
With the growth in the opportunities for amateur athletes to take part in competitive events it i... more With the growth in the opportunities for amateur athletes to take part in competitive events it is becoming apparent that there is a need to separate active sport tourists into two types: non-event (e.g. golf, skiing) and event. Active event sport tourism constitutes travel to take part in various organized events from the hallmark New York and London Marathons to
European Sport Management Quarterly, 2012
ABSTRACT Youth sport events provide communities with an influx of families who travel to provide ... more ABSTRACT Youth sport events provide communities with an influx of families who travel to provide their children with primary sport experiences. Decisions to participate in these ‘sport-cations’ are influenced by overall perceptions about the event, opportunities for socializing, and norms derived from family and friends’ support. The study aimed to understand the impact of overall event image on traveling parents’ subjective norms (SNs), attitudes, and behavioral intentions to re-attend similar youth sport events. Parents of youth female soccer players (N = 370) were surveyed at a youth tournament. Structural equation modeling analysis was utilized to test the proposed model. The results supported the positive influence of event image on attitudes and SNs and the impact of SNs on intentions. Based on these findings, peer influence becomes important. Efforts at managing event image should involve influencing the social network of parents about the importance of these events to achieve higher return rates.
Current Issues in Tourism, 2012
Annals of Tourism Research, 2013
This study explored the meanings, perceptions, and feelings assigned by women to their sexual beh... more This study explored the meanings, perceptions, and feelings assigned by women to their sexual behavior in tourism. The findings from 21 in-depth semi-structured interviews reveal that the tourist experiences were perceived as a liminoid and 'chora' time-space where women could explore sexual behavior either with steady or casual sexual partners, and recreate their selves through alternative sexual behavior. The changes in women's sexual behavior were interpreted as resistance to gendered expectations of appropriate sexual behavior. Resistance gave rise to feelings of adventurousness, challenge, control, and empowerment. Post-structuralist lens of power relations, as well as the concepts of front and back regions, performativity, and existential authenticity were adopted to conceptualize the findings.
Australasian Journal on Ageing, 2012
The number and percent of older people in developed countries continue to grow, thanks to medical... more The number and percent of older people in developed countries continue to grow, thanks to medical advances and decreases in fertility and mortality rates. And that means that tomorrow's recreation and leisure professionals will be more challenged than ever to meet the needs of an increasingly older culturally diverse population. "Leisure and Aging: Theory and Practice" provides students and professionals with a balanced perspective of current knowledge as it presents cutting-edge research from the fields of both gerontology and leisure studies. Written by authors from various disciplines who represent an international who's-who in leisure and aging research, this text - explores theories in leisure and aging; - bridges the gap between research and application, arming professionals with tools to navigate diverse cultures; and - offers insight into delivery of leisure services in older adult communities and long-term care environments. Each chapter features learning objectives, study questions, case studies, exercises, and relevant readings. The book is supplemented by online ancillaries, including an instructor guide, test package, and a presentation package with photos, illustrations, and tables from the text. Together, the text and online ancillaries help students connect theories and practice as they prepare for future roles in their chosen fields. "Leisure and Aging" is presented in five sections. Part I introduces global perspectives on leisure and aging, while part II examines the relevance of leisure in an aging context. Part III explores the effects of aging on physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being and health. Parts IV and V delve into the role of community in aging and leisure and long-term care and leisure. Written for undergraduate students, professors, and professionals in recreation, leisure, gerontology, and aging, "Leisure and Aging" provides a wealth of knowledge on various aspects of life for older people and the role of leisure in their lives. The text helps students think critically about a phase of life that seems remote from their own and provides perspective to their understanding of aging and leisure.
Journal of Leisure Research, 2013
As a freely chosen activity intended to generate pleasure and enjoyment, sex is an important huma... more As a freely chosen activity intended to generate pleasure and enjoyment, sex is an important human experience associated with a sense of “normality” and well-being. However, depression and antidepressants are typically associated with decreased libido and diminished sexual functioning. Drawing upon netnography and constructivist grounded theory, this study explored how sex is perceived and experienced by people with depression who participate in on-line depression communities. Analysis identified five themes dealing with sex, antidepressants, relationships, loving oneself and others, and sex as a resource for coping. Demonstrating that sex loses its qualities as a leisure activity, the findings suggested a complex and multidimensional paradox of sex as leisure in coping with depression, which involves not only individuals with depression but also their significant others.
Journal of Leisure Research, 2012
This study is part of a three-year long project working with Bike Florida Inc. The project is unf... more This study is part of a three-year long project working with Bike Florida Inc. The project is unfunded but provided an opportunity for access to the participants of Bike Florida (2005, 2006 and 2007) in return for the collection of event evaluation data for the event managers. Thanks go to a series of graduate assistants who worked on this project over the years including Christine Qi, Seohee Chang (co-author) and Sung Jin Kang who worked on the 2007 qualitative data phase. Presentations of different aspects of this project have been made at various academic conferences over the years including the Leisure Research Symposium, North American Society of Sport Management, and has been referenced in various international key notes delivered by the lead author. Thanks to the Department of Tourism, University of Otago, New Zealand for their hospitality enjoyed during the development of this manuscript.
Journal of Sport Management, 2008
Although there is growing awareness of the relationship between hosting mega-sporting-events and ... more Although there is growing awareness of the relationship between hosting mega-sporting-events and destination image, there is little empirical evidence documenting what images people hold before an event. The purpose of this study was to investigate the images young Americans hold of China both as a tourist destination and as the host of the 2008 Olympic Games. Specifically, the relationships among destination image, travel intentions, and tourist characteristics were explored. A total of 350 college students were surveyed before the close of the Athens Olympic Games. Overall, the respondents perceived China and the Beijing Olympic Games positively. Destination image was significantly (p < .05) predictive of the intention to travel to China and the Olympic Games. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that destination image partially mediated the relationship between past international travel experience and intention to travel. The theoretical and practical implications of thes...
Journal of Leisure Research, 2015
, for his valuable comments on the statistical analysis in this paper. This project was partially... more , for his valuable comments on the statistical analysis in this paper. This project was partially funded by the Bill Sims Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant from the Eric Friedheim Tourism Institute at the University of Florida. Likewise, the authors would like to thank study participants for sharing their valuable perspectives on the researched topic.
Journal of Leisure Research, 2013
This project was partially funded by the Bill Sims Faculty Research Grant from the Eric Friedheim... more This project was partially funded by the Bill Sims Faculty Research Grant from the Eric Friedheim Tourism at the University of Florida. Likewise, the authors would like to thank study participants for sharing their travel stories and providing valuable insights on the researched topic.
Leisure Studies, 2014
ABSTRACT Women’s sexual behaviour in leisure-travel contexts is an under-researched area. Most at... more ABSTRACT Women’s sexual behaviour in leisure-travel contexts is an under-researched area. Most attention has focused on commercial forms of sex/romance tourism. The purpose of this study was to address women’s sexual behaviour in tourism, with both steady and casual sexual partner/s, by focusing on their perceptions and related meanings. Drawing upon constructivist grounded theory, 21 in-depth interviews with secular and traditional Israeli Jewish women were analysed using a Foucauldian lens, which incorporated technologies of self, inversions of sexual roles and heterotopia. The findings reveal that for some women, sexual behavior in tourism is an arena for self-exploration, resistance and self-transformation. The complexity of the inversions of sexual roles is illustrated via the triplex of mind, language and body, that combined produce a counter-discourse to social stereotypes associated with women’s sexual behaviour in their home environments.
Sport Management Review, 2012
Tourism Management, 2015
h i g h l i g h t s Understanding sexual risk-taking based on context, likelihood, and consequenc... more h i g h l i g h t s Understanding sexual risk-taking based on context, likelihood, and consequences. Identification of tourist experiences conducive to sexual risk-taking. Assessment of touristic factors facilitating sexual risk-taking. Evaluation of sexual activities perceived as risky for tourists. Clarification of rewards sought from sexual risk-taking in tourism.
Tourism Management, 2011
Increasingly, perceived risk is part of a destination's image. This is particularly true for Afri... more Increasingly, perceived risk is part of a destination's image. This is particularly true for Africa. This study investigated images and risks associated with Uganda and whether exposure to Uganda's official tourism website could induce image change. A classic two group randomized experimental design was used. Exposure to Uganda's official tourism website was the intervention. Pre-test images, formed prior to website exposure were negative for both groups, and Uganda was perceived as a risky destination. Posttest images for the experimental group, formed after exposure to the website, were significantly more positive and perceived risk was reduced. Post-test images and perceived risk for the control group remained the same. Five underlying dimensions of perceived risk in Uganda were identified. It appears that by addressing these underlying dimensions, African destinations could use the web to better manage image and perceived risk. More integration between the image and risk literatures is recommended.
Tourism Management, 2015
ABSTRACT Tourist experiences have been conceptualized as heterotopias, and liminoid contra-normat... more ABSTRACT Tourist experiences have been conceptualized as heterotopias, and liminoid contra-normative settings offering a license for thrills, situational disinhibition, and sexual experimentation. The purpose of this study was to explore the links between tourism and young women's sexual behavior, focusing on their perceptions of sexual risk-taking in tourism and its consequences. Transcendental phenomenology was implemented to grasp the uniqueness of the individual experiences and assess the universal meanings of the phenomenon, proceeding through the stages of epoch e, phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation, and synthesis. The findings of fifteen in-depth interviews reveal that women's sexual risk-taking in tourism is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon involving physical, sexual health, social, emotional, mental/self-perceptional, cultural, and legal aspects. Clarifying the dimensions of sexual risk-taking in tourism and its consequences benefits the literature in terms of shedding light on an under-researched topic and provides information for health education/intervention programs aimed at addressing sexual risk behaviors in tourism.
Tourism Management, 2013
Applying image transfer related to sponsorship theory and the cognitiveeaffective model of consum... more Applying image transfer related to sponsorship theory and the cognitiveeaffective model of consumer behavior, this study explores how the deployment of a socially responsible program by a multinational (non-governmental) sport organization impacts the image of a mega sport event. Using the 2010 FIFA World Cup as the research context, the hypothesized model is tested among a sample of international sport tourists (N ¼ 6606) from all nine host cities (ten stadiums) in South Africa during the tournament. The structural model results demonstrate that: (1) tourists' familiarity with the 'Win in Africa, with Africa' program, and (2) the perception of FIFA as a socially responsible organization influence event image and one form of consumer patronage.
Sport Management Review, 2012
Leisure Sciences, 2011
... Their findings seem to suggest that sports, physical activities, or outdoor recreation may ha... more ... Their findings seem to suggest that sports, physical activities, or outdoor recreation may have a higher level of consistency between leisure and tourism contexts compared with other activities. ... Journal of Marketing Research , 19: 505516. ...
Journal of Sport & Tourism, 2009
The issue of risk associated with mega-event tourism has been receiving increased attention. The ... more The issue of risk associated with mega-event tourism has been receiving increased attention. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between risk perceptions and travel intentions associated with an Olympic Games' host country, using the Beijing Games as a case study. To control for the influence of individual backgrounds, this study focused on a homogeneous population, students below 30 years of age, US born and raised, and enrolled at a university in the US. Research participants (N ¼ 350) responded to a questionnaire designed to measure perceived risks, travel intentions, international travel experience, tourist role, and demographics. A factor analysis revealed four perceived risk factors: Personal Safety, Cultural Risk, Socio-psychological Risk, and Violence Risk. Utilizing the factor scores, regression analyses revealed that Violence Risk and Socio-psychological Risk had significantly (p , 0.05) negative impacts on participants' intention to visit China as a tourist. Although not statistically significant, the four risk factors were negatively predictive of the intention to attend the Olympic Games in China. The perceived risk factors were further found to be related to gender and tourist role types. Discussions are focused on the implications of these research findings to mega event management and promotions of host countries as tourism destinations.
Journal of Sport & Tourism, 2011
... is culturally very different, (4) has periodic episodes of war, violence and crime and lastly... more ... is culturally very different, (4) has periodic episodes of war, violence and crime and lastly (5 ... Scripting the nation: Sport, mega events, foreign policy and state building in post-apartheid SouthAfrica. ... associated with perceived risk, an idea which would certainly be of interest to SA. ...
Journal of Sport & Tourism, 2010
With the growth in the opportunities for amateur athletes to take part in competitive events it i... more With the growth in the opportunities for amateur athletes to take part in competitive events it is becoming apparent that there is a need to separate active sport tourists into two types: non-event (e.g. golf, skiing) and event. Active event sport tourism constitutes travel to take part in various organized events from the hallmark New York and London Marathons to
European Sport Management Quarterly, 2012
ABSTRACT Youth sport events provide communities with an influx of families who travel to provide ... more ABSTRACT Youth sport events provide communities with an influx of families who travel to provide their children with primary sport experiences. Decisions to participate in these ‘sport-cations’ are influenced by overall perceptions about the event, opportunities for socializing, and norms derived from family and friends’ support. The study aimed to understand the impact of overall event image on traveling parents’ subjective norms (SNs), attitudes, and behavioral intentions to re-attend similar youth sport events. Parents of youth female soccer players (N = 370) were surveyed at a youth tournament. Structural equation modeling analysis was utilized to test the proposed model. The results supported the positive influence of event image on attitudes and SNs and the impact of SNs on intentions. Based on these findings, peer influence becomes important. Efforts at managing event image should involve influencing the social network of parents about the importance of these events to achieve higher return rates.
Current Issues in Tourism, 2012
Annals of Tourism Research, 2013
This study explored the meanings, perceptions, and feelings assigned by women to their sexual beh... more This study explored the meanings, perceptions, and feelings assigned by women to their sexual behavior in tourism. The findings from 21 in-depth semi-structured interviews reveal that the tourist experiences were perceived as a liminoid and 'chora' time-space where women could explore sexual behavior either with steady or casual sexual partners, and recreate their selves through alternative sexual behavior. The changes in women's sexual behavior were interpreted as resistance to gendered expectations of appropriate sexual behavior. Resistance gave rise to feelings of adventurousness, challenge, control, and empowerment. Post-structuralist lens of power relations, as well as the concepts of front and back regions, performativity, and existential authenticity were adopted to conceptualize the findings.