Place type or place function: What matters for place attachment?

Abstract

Place attachment at neighborhood places can facilitate social ties and community belonging, reduce social isolation and improve physical and mental health outcomes. Research highlights the benefits of place attachment at traditional third places such as cafes and parks but is yet to examine place attachment across a broader suite of highly frequented neighborhood places. Drawing on survey data from a sample of Australian residents (N = 892) with a median age of 55−64 years, this study examines the influence of place form and function on place attachment at everyday places. Findings reveal that places where individuals go to participate in specific and unique activities (e.g., exercise at a gym, prayer at a temple) alongside a defined group of other community members, such as places of worship or gyms, engender stronger place attachment than places of economic consumption, such as large shops and cafes. This is important in its capacity to inform neighborhood planning and policies to reduce risk of social isolation.

The Effect of Soundscape on Sense of Place for Residential Historical and Cultural Areas: A Case Study of Taiyuan, China

“…Places where individuals participated in specific and unique soundscapes together with other community members generated stronger place attachment than economic consumption places like large stores and cafes. Individuals with lower frequencies of visits to various community places tend to have lower levels of attachment to a particular place [45], which may explain the impact of residents' participation in activities on place attachment in residential historical and cultural areas. The special activities' sound is related to daily activities and community participation awareness.…”