{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,29]],"date-time":"2026-10-29T17:11:20Z","timestamp":1793293880266,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785456000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Heritage tourism emerged as an important mechanism for preserving indigenous cultural traditions while potentially supporting psychosocial well-being. This mixed-methods study examined the associations between heritage tourism participation, cultural identity, resilience, social support, and psychological well-being among indigenous communities in Southwest China.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A total of 180 participants from Miao, Dong and Naxi communities were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling strategies. Quantitative data were collected using the Connor\u2013Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), WHO-5 Well-Being Index, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Cultural Identity and Belongingness Scale. Qualitative data obtained through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and the participant observation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Reliability analyses demonstrated strong internal consistency across instruments (Cronbach\u2019s\n                      <jats:italic>\u03b1<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.86\u20130.91). Correlation analyses revealed the significant positive associations between heritage tourism participation and psychological well-being (\n                      <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\n                      =\u202f0.38,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.01), resilience (\n                      <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.31,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.01), social support (\n                      <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.28,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.01) and cultural identity (\n                      <jats:italic>r<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f=\u202f0.34,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u202f&amp;lt;\u202f0.01). Thematic analysis identified six major themes including cultural participation and resilience, traditional healing and psychological wellness, social cohesion and belongingness, ecological attachment and spiritual restoration, economic empowerment and well-being and tourism-related stress and cultural commodification. Participants described storytelling, ritual practices, traditional healing systems, ecological stewardship and community festivals as important sources of emotional support, cultural continuity and collective resilience.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The concerns regarding commercialization, cultural performance pressure and unequal tourism benefits also reported. The findings suggest that heritage tourism may function as culturally grounded resource associated with psychological well-being when implemented through community-led, culturally sensitive and sustainable tourism frameworks.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1899219","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T04:25:20Z","timestamp":1785471920000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Healing through heritage tourism: indigenous cultural practices and mental wellness in traditional communities"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Rui","family":"Zhao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Wenshan University","place":["Wenshan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jing","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Wenshan University","place":["Wenshan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rui","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Economics and Management, Wenshan University","place":["Wenshan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100198","DOI":"10.1016\/j.glmedi.2025.100198","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in qualitative research","volume":"6","author":"Ahmed","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Med. Surgery Public Health"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1080\/00049530.2021.1883409","article-title":"Belonging: a review of conceptual issues, an integrative framework, and directions for future research","volume":"73","author":"Allen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Aust. J. Psychol."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhtm.2018.09.001","article-title":"A conceptual framework of tourism social entrepreneurship for sustainable community development","volume":"37","author":"Aquino","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Hosp. Tour. Manag."},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.5281\/zenodo.8249545","article-title":"Cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge: reviving traditions for future generations","volume":"1","author":"Bihari","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sustainable development goals in SAARC countries: Key issues, opportunities and challenges"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0282319","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0282319","article-title":"Exploring the relationships between heritage tourism, sustainable community development and host communities\u2019 health and wellbeing: a systematic review","volume":"18","author":"Brooks","year":"2023","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1405","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-9566.13311","article-title":"Beyond deficit:\u2018strengths-based approaches\u2019 in indigenous health research","volume":"43","author":"Bryant","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sociol. Health Illn."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100410","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lana.2022.100410","article-title":"Ethical principles of traditional indigenous medicine to guide western psychedelic research and practice","volume":"18","author":"Celidwen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lancet Regional Health\u2013Americas"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1907","DOI":"10.32604\/ijmhp.2025.068264","article-title":"Alienation and life satisfaction: mediation effects of social identity and hope among university students","volume":"27","author":"Chang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Int. J. Ment. Health Promot."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1541-0064.2012.00417.x","article-title":"Telling stories: exploring research storytelling as a meaningful approach to knowledge mobilization with indigenous research collaborators and diverse audiences in community-based participatory research","volume":"56","author":"Christensen","year":"2012","journal-title":"Can. Geogr."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e000298","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjpo-2018-000298","article-title":"Cultural considerations for informed consent in paediatric research in low\/middle-income countries: a scoping review","volume":"2","author":"Colom","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMJ Paediatrics Open"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1177\/1094428116639133","article-title":"Elaboration, generalization, triangulation, and interpretation: on enhancing the value of mixed method research","volume":"20","author":"Gibson","year":"2017","journal-title":"Organ. Res. Methods"},{"key":"ref12","volume-title":"The Institution of Well-Being: Embodying a Culture of Flourishing at the Shawnee Institute","author":"Hollway","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13054","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph182413054","article-title":"A study on the relationship between mental well-being and cultural tourism guides based on the interview methodology","volume":"18","author":"Kang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1261","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-95963-4_17","volume-title":"Partnerships for the Goals","author":"Kohsaka","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref15","first-page":"17","volume-title":"Consuming Experience","author":"Kozinets","year":"2013"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/13683500.2025.2590589","article-title":"Methodological potentials of using exploratory sequential mixed methods design for dark tourism decoloniality","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Curr. Issue Tour."},{"key":"ref17","volume-title":"Reorienting Authenticity in Indigenous Tourism: Emotion, Experience and Sustainable Reconciliation","author":"Lonn","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref18","first-page":"1","article-title":"The commodification of culture in global tourism: balancing authenticity, sustainability, and ethical practices amidst disruption","volume":"1","author":"Marbun","year":"2025","journal-title":"Proceed. Int. Seminar Culture Tourism AKBI"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1186\/s12910-021-00608-4","article-title":"Recognising values and engaging communities across cultures: towards developing a cultural protocol for researchers","volume":"22","author":"Memon","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Med. Ethics"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"821","DOI":"10.1080\/13552074.2024.2424625","article-title":"The role of rituals and cultural heritage in post-disaster social resilience: the case of Antakya","volume":"32","author":"Oflazo\u011flu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Gend. Dev."},{"key":"ref21","first-page":"1","volume-title":"Well-Being as a Multidimensional Concept","author":"Page-Reeves","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1016","DOI":"10.1080\/13683500.2024.2443776","article-title":"Current challenges and opportunities in cultural heritage preservation through sustainable tourism practices","volume":"29","author":"Pai","year":"2026","journal-title":"Curr. Issue Tour."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1007\/s10912-014-9318-0","article-title":"Sacred spaces, healing places: therapeutic landscapes of spiritual significance","volume":"36","author":"Perriam","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Med. Humanit."},{"key":"ref24","first-page":"36","article-title":"Role of cultural heritage preservation in destination branding and tourist experience enhancement","volume":"1","author":"Perry","year":"2023","journal-title":"Hospitality Tourism J."},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"328","DOI":"10.14505\/jemt.v15.2(74).08","article-title":"Cultural guardianship in tourism: indigenous communities\u2019 quest for economic stability and identity preservation","volume":"15","author":"Reddy","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag. Tourism"},{"key":"ref26","first-page":"1","volume-title":"Indigenous heritage","author":"Ruhanen","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tmp.2019.06.001","article-title":"Tourism, heritage and cultural performance: developing a modality of heritage tourism","volume":"31","author":"Santa","year":"2019","journal-title":"Tour. Manag. Perspect."},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1186\/1746-4269-10-4","article-title":"Bapedi traditional healers in the Limpopo Province, South Africa: their socio-cultural profile and traditional healing practice","volume":"10","author":"Semenya","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1800","DOI":"10.4102\/koedoe.v66i2.1800","article-title":"Heritage sites as tourism attractions: spiritual, psychological and emotional toll on communities","volume":"66","author":"Shabalala","year":"2024","journal-title":"Koedoe"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"433","DOI":"10.1080\/09669582.2016.1217871","article-title":"Issues in measuring success in community-based indigenous tourism: elites, kin groups, social capital, gender dynamics and income flows","volume":"25","author":"Taylor","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Sustain. Tour."},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"88","DOI":"10.14288\/hfjcv11i4.265","article-title":"Indigenous elders\u2019 role in fostering intergenerational relationships with youth","volume":"11","author":"Yang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Health Fit. J. Can."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1323","DOI":"10.1186\/s40359-025-03660-6","article-title":"Validation of the everyday ageism scale in Iranian older adults","volume":"13","author":"Yousefi Afrashteh","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Psychol."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.1037\/prj0000510","article-title":"Multidimensional wellness for people aging with mental health conditions: a proposed framework","volume":"45","author":"Zechner","year":"2022","journal-title":"Psychiatr. Rehabil. J."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1899219\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T04:25:23Z","timestamp":1785471923000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1899219\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]]},"references-count":33,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1899219"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1899219","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]]},"article-number":"1899219"}}