Tourists’ Assessments of Threats, Trust in Government, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Protection Behavior: Complexity Theory and Asymmetric Case-Based Model Applications

This study examines tourists’ self-protective behavior, revealing intricate relations among threat appraisal, coping appraisal, trust in government, and socio-demographic variables. Extending Protection Motivation Theory, this study suggests that relationships among these variables are conditional and configuration-dependent rather than universally consistent. Using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), results show five different configurations associated with high self-protective motivation behavior. Study findings highlight the complexity of individual responses to perceived threats and the contingent impacts of multiple configural factors in understanding self-protective behavior. Practical implications include tailored interventions for the tourism sector, recognizing diverse risk perceptions and trust in government among demographic groups.