When Constraints Become Demotivators: Uncovering the Psychological Mechanisms Behind Parental Travel Avoidance and Intention Using PLS ‐ SEM and NCA

This study examines the psychological mechanisms through which travel constraints discourage parents of young children from engaging in family tourism. Four types of constraints are examined as triggers of demotivation that foster travel avoidance and suppress intention. To capture both average effects and indispensable prerequisites, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS‐SEM) and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) are used for data analysis. Findings reveal that PLS‐SEM and NCA elicit distinct but complementary results, showing constraints as both psychological drivers and non‐compensatory prerequisites. These results advance constraint theory by differentiating drivers from gatekeeping prerequisites and highlight the need for targeted strategies that address psychological and relational barriers to restore parental motivation for family travel.