Exploring the psychological healing function of dark tourism among older adults in China

In recent years, dark tourism has gradually emerged as a distinctive form of cultural and psychological healing experience, particularly gaining attention for its therapeutic functions among older adults. However, the mechanisms through which dark tourism facilitates psychological healing remain inadequately explored, and the theoretical underpinnings in existing literature are limited. To address this gap, this study constructs a theoretical model of the psychological healing functions of dark tourism among older adults using grounded theory, based on interview data from 30 older adult participants. The research systematically reveals the key elements and logical pathways of this process. The findings are as follows: (1) Psychological foundation, social support, situational experience, cognitive reconstruction, and behavioral transformation constitute the five core categories of the psychological healing functions in dark tourism; (2) psychological foundation, social support, and situational experience (input factors) trigger emotional release and cognitive reflection, thereby influencing cognitive reconstruction (mediating mechanism), ultimately resulting in the external effect of behavioral transformation; (3) psychological healing outcomes of dark tourism can be further enhanced by optimizing situational experiences, strengthening social support networks, and enhancing individual psychological resilience. This study deepens the theoretical understanding of the psychological healing functions of dark tourism and provides theoretical foundations and practical guidance for the design of relevant sites and the optimization of healing mechanisms.