The PERMA model and job performance: Unveiling the mediating role of job satisfaction in the tourism sector strategy

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Abstract

The tourism industry faces persistent challenges due to labor shortages and high employee turnover, highlighting the necessity of understanding the factors influencing employee satisfaction and performance. This study examines the positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA) model — comprising positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement — as a framework for improving job satisfaction and employee performance in the tourism sector. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze data from 375 employees in the tourism industry. The analysis reveals that relationships and meaning significantly drive job satisfaction and performance. Additionally, job satisfaction functions as a crucial mediating variable, connecting the components of the PERMA model to enhanced employee performance. The findings emphasize the importance of creating a positive and meaningful work environment to promote employee well-being. Prioritizing employee satisfaction not only enhances individual performance but also strengthens organizational competitiveness in the dynamic tourism landscape. These findings are consistent with prior work in positive psychology and workplace behavior (Seligman, 2011; Judge et al., 2001). This study contributes to the literature by contextualizing the PERMA model in tourism, a high-pressure and customer-facing environment.

Keywords: PERMA Model, Job Satisfaction, Employee Performance, Tourism Sector, PLS-SEM

Authors’ individual contribution: Conceptualization — N.T.T.; Methodology — N.T.T.; Formal Analysis — N.T.T.; Investigation — Q.V.N.; Resources — T.T.N.; Data Curation — Q.V.N.; Writing — Original Draft — N.T.T. and T.T.N.; Writing — Review & Editing — Q.V.N.; Visualization — T.T.N.; Project Administration — Q.V.N.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: L84, M12, M54

Received: 15.01.2025
Revised: 05.04.2025; 01.09.2025
Accepted: 08.09.2025
Published online: 10.09.2025

How to cite this paper: To, N. T., Nguyen, Q. V., & Nguyen, T. T. (2025). The PERMA model and job performance: Unveiling the mediating role of job satisfaction in the tourism sector strategy [Special issue]. Corporate & Business Strategy Review, 6(3), 378–389. https://doi.org/10.22495/cbsrv6i3siart14