What Connects us to City? Revealing Place Attachment Factors and Their Features in the Urban Setting

Abstract

Over the past 50 years, several approaches to the sense of place have been developed and used to better understand the complex dynamics of multi-coexisting spatial practices and experiences. Place attachment is a psychological phenomenon that explains the emotional connection people feel with certain places. This connection goes beyond simple pleasures and preferences and creates an important relationship with the physical environment. Place attachment is particularly relevant when it comes to urban and community development issues. Usually, the literature on place-related attachments concentrates on individual feelings and experiences and does not put these links in a broader socio-economic context. In this paper, we explore both emotional and functional dimensions of place attachment and examine how they influence self-image and relationship with the urban environment. The study uses exploratory factor analysis to measure the impact of various factors and develops a framework for understanding the residents’ interaction with the community. It is demonstrated that place attachments are multidimensional and cannot be explained by a relationship between cause and effect. High quality of life, including elements such as economic stability, physical and mental health, social belonging and environmental quality, creates a place where people can build strong emotional bonds to their homes. However, the meaning of the place goes beyond material conditions, shaped by the symbolic meaning and shared experience created by individuals and communities over time. In future studies, we can address the various research gaps identified in this study in order to better understand the role of place attachment in the creation of sustainable urban environments.