The Therapeutic Experience at Chinese Buddhist Temples (TECBT): Conceptualization and Scale Development

Drawing on the therapeutic experience literature and the therapeutic landscapes theory, this research seeks to construct a novel scale to assess tourists’ therapeutic experience at Chinese Buddhist temples (TECBT). This study conducted a literature review and semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, which generated an initial pool of measurement items. Through expert review, a final set of 30 items was developed. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) conducted on 322 samples refined the scale, resulting in 25 items categorized into five experience dimensions: nature, sensory, social, ritual, and spiritual. We utilized 328 samples to examine the overall model fit and verify the convergent and discriminant validity. Criterion-related validity and nomological validity were tested using 340 samples. The relationship between TECBT and two psychological outcomes–psychological recovery and life satisfaction–was tested. The five-dimensional TECBT scale represents a pioneering initiative to measure the therapeutic experience at Chinese Buddhist temples. This study advances temple tourism research and provides practical insights for temple administrators. The study pioneered a direction for future interdisciplinary research at the nexus between temple practices and therapeutic experience.