Testing the Dimensionality of Place Attachment in Recreational Settings

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the psychometric properties of a place-attachment scale using data collected from visitors to the Appalachian Trail in the United States. These data supported a correlated three-factor model consisting of place identity, place dependence, and social bonding. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to cross-validate the model using two subsamples of the data. Latent factor means were also compared. Although these analyses provided mixed evidence indicating the scale to be a valid and reliable measure of place attachment, there remains some concern about the performance of several indicators (i.e., low factor loadings, low reliability). Latent mean differences were also observed between the two groups on the place identity dimension. The analyses presented in this investigation provide an example of the utility of covariance structure analysis for testing the psychometric properties of scales and for comparing latent mean differences among groups within populations.

Problems in Place: Using Discursive Social Psychology to Investigate the Meanings of Seasonal Homes

“…While these differing aspects of relationships to places are widely recognized, individual studies investigating place phenomena differ in their focus on place attachments (Jorgensen & Stedman, 2006;Kaltenborn & Williams, 2002;Kyle, Graefe, & Manning, 2005;Warzecha & Lime, 2001;Williams & Vaske, 2003) versus place meanings (Brandenburg & Carroll, 1995;Brooks, Wallace, & Williams, 2006;Davenport & Anderson, 2005;Fishwick & Vining, 1992;McAvoy, 2002;Patterson, Williams, & Schrel, 1998;Riese & Vorkinn, 2002;Stewart, Liebert, & Larken, 2004). Studies that focus principally on measuring the strength of attachments and bonds of various sorts typically employ quantitative scales.…”

Youth in Public Housing: Place attachment and Quality of Life Index

“…Recent determinations have considered residents' attachments to resource nearby the settlement (Vorkinn and Riese 2001), local residents' attachments to nearby "special places" (Eisenhauer et al 2000), visitors' attachments to recreation and tourist destinations (Vaske and Kobrin 2001, Warzecha andLime, 2001), and place attachment among second home owners (Jorgensen and Stedman 2001). This article extends the psychological study of attachment to recreational places by evaluating the demographic structure and performance of a commonly used place attachment with user quality of life especially adolescence.Place attachment refers to the emotional and responsive sense of relationships that characters form with unambiguous places (Kyle et al, 2005). These links grant physical places with emotional sense and personal experience (Johnstone, 2012) and manifest as a constant tendency to continue close bonds to accurate, inclusive, and singular places (Kleine & Menzel-Baker, 2004).…”

“…Place attachment refers to the emotional and responsive sense of relationships that characters form with unambiguous places (Kyle et al, 2005). These links grant physical places with emotional sense and personal experience (Johnstone, 2012) and manifest as a constant tendency to continue close bonds to accurate, inclusive, and singular places (Kleine & Menzel-Baker, 2004).…”

“…Place attachment has consequently been realistic to disaster consciousness (Brown et al, 2003), settlement (Ng, 1998), and movement (Giulian et al, 2003;Gustafson, 2001). Other research has shown that 'place meaning' and attachment can be used to plan and encourage the use of public spaces, such as national parks (Kyle et al, 2005;Williams & Stewart, 1998). Place attachment is also applicable to the study of environmental awareness.…”

Difference in place attachment between students in Helsinki and in Belgrade

“…Koncept vezanosti za mesto primenjivan je u okvirima psihologije katastrofa (Brown & Perkins, 1992), u studijama imigracije (Ng, 1998), mobilnosti (Giuliani 2003), planiranja i ohrabrivanja upotrebe javnih površina, kakvi su nacionalni parkovi (Kyle, Graefe, & Manning, 2005;Williams & Stewart, 1998) itd. Većina istraživača predstavlja vezanost za mesto kao višestruki koncept koji obuhvata vezu između pojedinca i okruženja koje njemu nešto znači (npr., Giuliani, 2003;Altman & Low, 1992).…”