Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analyzing the Causal Model between Place Attachment and Social Participation in Residences through the Mediation of Social Cohesion

  • Original Research Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Community Well-Being Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study takes advantage of data gathered from residents of Qeytarieh Tehran to explore the relationship between place attachment (PA) and social participation (SP) in neighborhoods through the mediating role of social cohesion (SC). To do so, a survey was conducted on 402 respondents from the Qeytarieh neighborhood, and the collected data were analyzed using a causal model. The results of this study indicate a strong direct relationship between place attachment and social participation. The study further finds a significant indirect relationship between place attachment and social participation. Social cohesion mediates and catalyzes the impact of the indirect relationship between place attachment and social participation. Furthermore, the model displays a high level of goodness of fit to the study data. The study concludes with implications for academics and practitioners.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alker, A. J., & Ryan, R. (2008). Place attachment and landscape preservation in rural New England: a Maine case study. Landscape and Urban Planning, 86(2), 141–152.

  • Anton, C. E., & Lawrence, C. (2014). Home is where the heart is: The effect of place of residence on place attachment and community participation. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 451–461.

  • Arabi, Z., Tavousi, S., & Mousavi, S. S. (2017). Sense of belonging to neighborhood and its role in social participation (Case of study: Tehran, Armenian's Region). Journal of Iranian Social Development, 8(3), 7–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asher, H. B. (1983). Causal modeling. Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bjørnskov, C. (2012). How does social trust affect economic growth? Southern Economic Journal, 78(4), 1346–1368.

  • Brocklesby, M. A., & Fisher, E. (2003). Community development in sustainable livelihoods approaches – An introduction. Oxford University Press and Community Development Journal, 23(3), 185–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. B., & Perkins, D. D. (1992a). Disruptions in place attachment. In I. Altman & S. Low (Eds.), Place attachment. Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B., & Perkins, D. (1992b). Disruptions in place attachment. Human behavior and environment book series. Place Attachment, 12, 279–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B., Perkins, D., & Brown, G. (2003). Place attachment in a revitalizing neighborhood: Individual and block levels of analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23(3), 259–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Budruk, M., Thomas, H., & Tyrrell, T. (2009). Urban green spaces: A study of place attachment and environmental attitudes in India. Society and Natural Resources, 22(9), 824–839.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cagney, K. A., Glass, T. A., & Skarupski, K. A. (2009). Neighborhood-level cohesion and disorder: Measurement and validation in two older adult urban populations. Journal Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 64(3), 415–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canter, D. V. (1977). The psychology of place. Architecture Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuba, L., & Hummon, D. M. (1993). A place to call home: Identification with dwelling, community, and region. Sociological Quarterly, 34(1), 111–131.

  • Donnelly, L., McLanahan, S., Brooks-Gunn, J., Garfinkel, I., Wagner, B., Jacobsen, W., et al. (2016). Cohesive neighborhoods where social expectations are shared may have positive impact on adolescent mental health. Health Affairs, 35, 2083–2091.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, D., Perkins, J. H., & Speer, P. W. (2002). Community psychology perspectives on social capital theory and community development practice. Journal of the Community Development Society, 33–52.

  • Ebrahimi, G. A., Noghani, M., & Hosseini, S. A. (2013). A survey of social capital in the elderly to determine their attitudes towards a nursing home: A case study of Noor City. Socio-Cultural Strategy, 125–140.

  • Toseh Consulting Engineer. (2005). Feasibility of comparing renovation of Qeytarieh problematical urban context.

  • Gamble, D., & Weil, M. (1995). Citizen participation. In Encyclopedia of social work (pp. 483–494). NASW Press.

  • Garson, G. D. (2009). Logistic regression from statnotes: Topics in multivariate analysis.

  • Ghafourian, M., & Hesari, E. (2018). Evaluating the model of causal relations between sense of place and residential satisfaction in Iranian public housing (The case of Mehr Housing in Pardis, Tehran). Social Indicators Research, 139(2)

  • Ghasemi, V. (2010). Structural equation modeling in social researches using Amos Graphics. Jam-e-Shenasan Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giuliani, M., & Feldman, R. (1993). Place attachment in a developmental and cultural context. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 13, 267–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golabi, F., Aghayari Hir, T., & Ebrahimi, R. (2013). Investigating social and economic factors related to the level of citizens’ satisfaction with the residential neighborhood. Urban Sociological Studies, 3(9), 125–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greider, T., & Garkovich, L. (1994). Landscapes: The social construction of nature and the environment. Rural Sociology, 59, 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J., Black, W., Babin, B., & Anderson, R. (2010). Multivariate data analysis. Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halpenny, E. (2010). Pro-environmental behaviors and park visitors: The effect of place attachment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(4), 409–421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harmon, L. K., Zinn, H. C., & Gleason, M. (2005). Place-based affect and participation in educational/interpretive programs: Exploring differences. In Proceedings of the 13th Biennial George Wright society conference. Philadelphia.

  • Hernandez, B., Martin, A., Ruiz, C., & Hidalgo, M. (2010). The role of place identity and place attachment in breaking environmental protection laws. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(3), 281–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hesari, E., MoosavY, S. M., Rohani, A., Kivi, S. B., Ghafourian, M., & B, S. (2020). Investigation the relationship between place attachment and community participation in residential area: A structural equation modelling approach. Social Indicators Research, 151, 921–941.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hesari, E., Peysokhan, M., Havashemi, A., Gheibi, D., Ghafourian, M., & Bayat, F. (2019). Analyzing the dimensionality of place attachment and its relationship with residential satisfaction in new cities: The case of Sadra, Iran. Social Indicators Research, 1031–1053.

  • Hooman, H. A. (2014a). Multivariate data analysis in behavioral research. Peyk-e-Farhang Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooman, H. A. (2014b). Structural equations using LISREL Software. Sat Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosseini, A., Pourahmad, A., Hataminejad, H., & Rezaeinia, H. (2013). Using QSPM method optimal strategies in ordering blight texture of Qeytarieh neighborhood. Bagh Nazar, 10(24), 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R. M. (1993). Successful adolescent development among youth in high-risk settings. American Psychologist, 48, 117–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jöreskog, K. G., & Sörbom, P. (1977). Lisrel 8 user’s reference guide. Scientific Software International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen, B., & Stedman, R. (2001). Sense of place as an attitude: Lakeshore owners’ attitudes toward their properties. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21(3), 233–248.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen, B., & Stedman, R. (2006). A comparative analysis of predictors of sense of place dimensions: Attachment to, dependence on, and identification with lakeshore properties. Journal of Environmental Management, 79(3), 316–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawachi, I., & Berkman, L. F. (2000). Social cohesion, social capital, and health. In L. F. Berkman & I. Kawachi (Eds.), Social epidemiology (pp. 174–190). Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawachi, I., Subramanian, S. V., & Kim, D. (2007). Social capital and health: A decade of progress and beyond. In I. Kawachi, S. V. Subramanian, & D. Kim (Eds.), Social capital and health (pp. 1–28). Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazaei, M., & Razavian, M. T. (2016). Neighborhood centeralism: A new approach to creating sustainable urban management (Case: Qeytarieh, Tehran). Zagros View Journal of Geography and Urban Planning, 1–19.

  • Kim, D., Baum, C. F., Ganz, M. L., Subramanian, S. V., & Kawachi, C. (2011). The contextual effects of social capital on health: A cross-national instrumental variable analysis. Social Science & Medicine, 73(12), 1689–1697.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, H. Y. (2006). Assessing the role of social capital in the community development field: A multi-level analysis. University of Georgia: Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation.

  • Kingsbury, M., Clayborne, Z., Colman, I., & Kirkbride, J. B. (2020). The protective effect of neighborhood social cohesion on adolescent mental health following stressful life events. Psychological Medicine, 50(8), 1292–1299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kline, R. B. (2015). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kyle, G. T., Graefe, A. R., & Manning, R. (2005). Testing the dimensionality of place attachment in recreational settings. Environment and Behavior, 37, 285–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kyle, G., Mowen, A., & Tarrant, M. (2004). Linking place preferences with place meaning: An examination of the relationship between place motivation and place attachment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24, 439–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewicka, M. (2005). Ways to make people active: The role of place attachment, cultural capital, and neighborhood ties. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25, 285–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewicka, M. (2011). Place attachment: How far have we come in the last 40 years? Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31, 207–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Low, S. M., & Altman, I. (1992). Place attachment: A conceptual inquiry. In S. M. Low & I. Altman (Eds.), Place attachment (pp. 1–12). Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madhooshi, M., & Jafari Samimi, M. H. (2015). Social entrepreneurship & social capital: A theoretical analysis. American Journal of Economics, Finance and Management, 1(3), 102–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manzo, L. C., & Perkins, D. D. (2006). Finding common ground: The importance of place attachment to community participation and planning. Journal of Planning Literature, 20(4), 335–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCunn, L. J., & Gifford, R. (2014). Interrelations between sense of place, organizational commitment, and green neighborhoods. Cities, 20–29.

  • Mendes de Leon, C. F., Cagney, K. A., B, J., Barnes, L. L., Skarupski, K. A., Scherr, P. A., & Evans, D. A. (2009). Neighborhood social cohesion and disorder in relation to walking in community-dwelling older adults: A multilevel analysis. Journal of Aging and Health, 21(1), 155–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mesch, G. S., & Manor, O. (1998). Social ties, environmental perception and local attachment. Environment and Behavior, 30, 504–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammad Zadeh, M., Amel Bafandeh, M., & Varesi, H. R. (2010). Specifying the role of social participation in enhancing sense of identity and its relation to the level of local attachment in the residents of new cities (Case of Golbahar City). Research and Urban Planning, 1(2), 17–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, P. (2010). Towards developmental theory of place attachment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(1), 11–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naghadi, A., Sajjad Zadeh, H., & Vahdat, S. (2016). The role of social capital in attachment to the place in traditional neighborhoods (Case of Hamedan Old Residences). Periodical of Urban Sociology, 6(18), 23–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norouzi Zadeh, Z., Bayat, F., Besharati Kivi, S., Rohani, A., Hamidi, R., Hamidi, N., & Zare, N. (2021). Evaluation and comparative study on the components affecting the formation of sense of belonging in the old and new contexts of Tabriz. Building Engineering & Housing. Science, 14(1), 51–60.

  • Ohmer, M., & Beck, E. (2006). Citizen participation in neighborhood organizations in poor communities and its relationship to neighborhood and organizational collective efficacy. The Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 33(1).

  • Paiva, P. P. P., Oliveira Filho, H. N., Lamounier, P. M., Ferreira, E. F., & Ferreira, R. C. (2014). Development and validation of a social capital questionnaire for adolescent students (SCQ-AS). Plos One, 9(8).

  • Pedhazur, E. J., & Kerlinger, F. N. (1982). Multiple regressions in behavioral research: Explanation and prediction. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, D. D., & Long, A. D. (2002a). Neighbourhood sense of community and social capital: A multi-level analysis. In A. Fischer, C. Sonn, & B. Bishop (Eds.), Psychological sense of community: Research, applications and implications (pp. 291–318). Plenum Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, D. D., & Long, D. A. (2002b). Neighborhood sense of community and social capital: A multi-level analysis. In Psychological sense of community: Research, applications, and implications. Plenum.

  • Petts, G. (2003). Handbook of environmental impact assessment. Blackwell Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pol, E. (2002). The theoretical background of the city-identity sustainability network. Environment and Behavior, 34, 8–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pourahmad, A., Hosseini, A., & Nasiri, H. (2012). Strategies for improving leisure spaces position with an emphasis on urban regeneration: A case study of Qeytarieh neighborhood, Tehran. In A. Zainal et al. (Eds.), Current issues in hospitality and tourism: Research and innovations. Taylor and Francis.

  • Pourahmad, A., Hosseini, A., & Ziari, K. (2015). Regeneration of urban blight with emphasis on leisure spaces: A case study: Qeytarieh neighborhood, Tehran. The Journal of Spatial Planning, 19(3), 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Proshansky, H. M. (1978). The city and self–identity. Environment and Behavior, 10(2), 147–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puddifoot, J. E. (1995). Dimensions of community identity. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 5, 357–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahnama, M. R., & Razavi, M. M. (2013). Investigating the effect of sense of place belonging on social capital and participation in neighborhoods of Mashhad. Honarhay-e-Ziba, 29–36.

  • Ramkissoon, H., & Mavondo, F. T. (2015). The satisfaction- place attachment relationship: Mediators and moderators. Journal of Business Research, 68(12), 2593–2602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramkissoon, H., Smith, L. D., & Weiler, B. (2013). Relationships between place attachment, place satisfaction and pro-environmental behavior in an Australian National Park. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(3), 434–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramkissoon, H., Smith, L. D., & Weiler, B. (2013b). Testing the dimensionality of place attachment and its relationships with place satisfaction and pro-environmental behaviours: A structural equation modeling approach. Tourism Management, 36, 552–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramkissoon, H., Weiler, B., & Smith, L. (2012). Place attachment and pro-environmental behaviour in national parks: The development of a conceptual framework. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20(2), 257–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raymond, C., Brown, G., & Weber, D. (2010). The measurement of place attachment: Personal, community, and environmental connections. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(4), 422–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Relph, E. (1976). Place and placelessness. Pion Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rock, A., Barrington, C., Abdoulayi, S., Tsoka, M., Mvula, P., & Handa, S. (2016). Social networks, social participation, and health among youth living in extreme poverty in rural Malawi. Social Science and Medicine, 55–62.

  • Rooney, D., Paulsen, N., Callan, V. J., Brabant, M., Gallois, C., & Jones, E. (2010). A new role for place identity in managing organizational change. Management Communication Quarterly, 24(1), 44–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadiqi, Z., Trigunarsyah, T., & Coffey, V. (2017). A framework for community participation in post-disaster housing reconstruction projects: A case of Afghanistan. International Journal of Project Management, 900–912.

  • Saleh Sedgh Pour, B., Hasan Nia, S., & Ebrahim Damavandi, M. (2014). Modeling emotional intelligence and happiness structural equation with the intermediate role of self-efficacy and academic intermediary. Journal of Teaching and Learning, 6(2), 32–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scannell, L., & Gifford, R. (2010a). Defining place attachment: A tripartite organizing framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(1), 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scannell, L., & Gifford, R. (2010). The relations between natural and civic place attachment and pro-environmental behavior. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(3), 289–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schreyer, R., Jacob, G., & White, R. (1981). Environmental meaning as a determinant of spatial behavior in recreation. Proceedings of the Applied Geography Conferences, 4, 294–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheikhi, M., & Amini, S. N. (2015). A comparative study of the feeling of place attachment in formal settlements & informal settlements (Parand New Town and Nasimshahr). Social Science, 23(69), 45–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soroush, M., & Afrasiabi, S. (2010). Social capital, identity and social participation of Shiraz Youth. Youth Research, Culture and Society, 5(5), 123–155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokols, N., & Shumaker, S. (1981). People in places: A transactional view of settings.

  • Talo, C., Mannarini, T., & Rochira, A. (2014). Sense of community and community participation: A meta-analytic review. Social Indicators Research, 1–28.

  • Tonge, J., Valesini, F., Moore, M., Beckley, L., & Ryan, M. (2015). The relation between place attachment and management preferences of visitors at remote coastal campsites in Western Australia. Visitor Studies, 13(1), 39–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuan, Y. F. (1979). Landscape of fear. Pantheon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuan, Y. F. (2001). Space and place: The perspectives of experience. University of Minnesota press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wen, T., Zhang, Q., & Li, Y. (2010). Why small tourism enterprises behave responsibly: Using job embeddedness and place attachment to predict corporate social responsibility activities. Current Issues in Tourism, 1435–1450.

  • Williams, D. R., & Vaske, J. J. (2003). The measurement of place attachment: Validity and generalizability of a psychometric approach. Forest Science, 49(6), 830–840.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D. R., Patterson, M. E., Roggenbuck, J. W., & Watson, A. E. (1992). Beyond the commodity metaphor: Examining emotional and symbolic attachment to place. Leisure Sciences, 14, 29–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, A. J., & Ryan, R. (2008). Place attachment and landscape preservation in rural New England: A Maine case study. Landscape and Urban Planning, 86(2), 141–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youngblut, J. M. (1994). Consumer’s guide to causal modeling: Part I. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 9(4), 268–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuksel, A., Yuksel, F., & Bilim, Y. (2010). Destination attachment: Effects on customer satisfaction and cognitive, affective and conative loyalty. Tourism Management, 31(2), 274–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zangeneh, Y., Hossein Abadi, S., Roshandel, T., & Nabipour, R. (2014). The effect of place attachment and social capital on participatory improvement in old neighborhoods, case study of Sardeh Residence, Sabzevar. Research and Urban Planning, 5(19), 111–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, L. J. (2021). Social cohesion associated with health mediated by emotional experience and life satisfaction: Evidence from the internal migrants in China. Applied Research Quality Life, 16, 1285–1303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University of Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

    Fatemeh Bayat

  2. Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA

    Elham Hesari

  3. Department of Geographic Information System (GIS), Faculty of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Sheida Ghahremani

  4. Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, University of Oklahoma, Norman, USA

    Sepideh Besharati Kivi

  5. Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Rudehen Branch, Tehran, Iran

    Rashin Hamidi

  6. Department of Architecture, Aria University of Science and Sustainability, Tehran, Iran

    Negin Hamidi

Authors
  1. Fatemeh Bayat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elham Hesari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sheida Ghahremani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sepideh Besharati Kivi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Rashin Hamidi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Negin Hamidi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elham Hesari.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bayat, F., Hesari, E., Ghahremani, S. et al. Analyzing the Causal Model between Place Attachment and Social Participation in Residences through the Mediation of Social Cohesion. Int. Journal of Com. WB 5, 711–732 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-022-00179-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42413-022-00179-1

Key words

Search

Navigation