This page gathers research papers, articles, and external resources related to social connection, belonging, cultural engagement, and relational wellbeing in travel contexts.
Sources here inform Nomadic Balance content on travelling with others, navigating shared attention, and staying connected without losing presence.
If you are interested in this research, please visit our Connection & Culture guides to discover how these sources relate to the world of travel.
This research underpins the wider Nomadic Balance approach; explore the main site to see how it is applied in practice.
Sources
Self-Control as a Limited Resource
Introduces the influential idea that self-control relies on a finite pool of mental energy, helping explain why sustained decision-making and regulation feel harder over time.
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2007.00534.x
Cognitive Load Theory
Explains how excessive information and complexity overload working memory, reducing clarity, learning, and effective decision-making.
🔗 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8126-4
Self-Determination Theory and Psychological Needs
Outlines how autonomy, competence, and relatedness underpin motivation and wellbeing, offering a framework for understanding sustainable behaviour and mental health.
🔗 https://doi.org/10.7202/1041847ar
How Human–Animal Interaction Supports Stress Regulation
Explains how interacting with animals (such as petting or spending time with them) can help reduce stress, support emotional regulation, and promote feelings of calm and safety, potentially through oxytocin-related pathways.
🔗 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00234
Social Norms and Drinking Behaviour
Shows how perceived group norms strongly influence alcohol consumption, framing drinking as a socially regulated behaviour rather than a simple matter of willpower.
🔗https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2012.73.276
Loneliness and Its Effects on Health and Wellbeing
This review examines the psychological and physiological impacts of loneliness, showing strong links to increased stress, poorer mental health, and negative health outcomes. It highlights how perceived social isolation shapes both emotional and cognitive processes.
🔗https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-010-9210-8