Exploring the role of place attachment in shaping urban development meanings in peripheral settlements

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the intricate connections that exist between place attachment, urban development meanings, and acceptance in urban peripheral settlements. The research aims to gain a better understanding of how people perceive and respond to urban development scenarios in the periphery using the tripartite frameworks of place attachment and the disruption-response model.METHODS: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, this study examines people's perceptions and reactions to four hypothetical urban development scenarios by combining qualitative interviews with key participants and then quantitative surveys administered to 256 adult residents of selected peripheral settlements in the rapidly developing city of Malang, Indonesia.FINDINGS: The findings from the qualitative phase, reveal diverse dimensions shaping the meaning of urban development, encompassing economic, social, cultural, livelihood, and environmental impacts. The survey results' exploratory factor analysis reveals latent factors that capture diverse perspectives on development scenarios, from societal and environmental harm to economic modernization and advancement. The structural equation model reveals that place attachment emerges as a significant predictor of urban development scenario meanings, although the relationship varies across different scenarios. Furthermore, the level of acceptance of urban development scenarios mediates the relationship between place attachment and interpretations, influencing perceptions of economic, social, and environmental impacts. Subsequently, the implications of these findings for existing literature were discussed.CONCLUSION: This study fills a gap in the disruption-response model by illuminating the interpretation process and showcasing the interplay of place attachment, urban development meanings, and acceptance in peripheral city settlements. Limitations of the study were discussed, and future studies were proposed.