Examining the relationship between loyalty and place attachment in an urban park setting

Plunkett, Daniel, Keith, Fulthorp and Paris, Cody Morris (2019) Examining the relationship between loyalty and place attachment in an urban park setting. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 25 . pp. 36-44. ISSN 2213-0780 [Article] (doi:10.1016/j.jort.2018.11.006)

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Abstract

The relationship between place attachment and loyalty has been researched in a variety of recreation and tourism contexts. This study expands upon the existing literature by examining the relationship between place attachment and behavior loyalty within an urban park setting. Specifically, the relationship between the place attachment dimensions of place identity, place dependence, and social bonding with behavioral loyalty, measured by park use frequency and proportion of use in relation to other settings. Two predictive models were tested: the first examined the influence of place attachment dimensions on loyalty as tested in previous research. The second model explored the influence of loyalty on the place attachment dimension, which had been alluded to in previous studies. The data, collected from 405 participants at eight urban parks in Manhattan Beach, California, was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Contradicting expectations, results of the study found no significant structural paths in the first model with place attachment dimensions predicting loyalty. Interestingly, the second model with behavioral loyalty predicting place attachment indicated significant relationships between all constructs. The findings of the study indicate that for an urban park setting, frequent use of specific parks contributes to stronger place attachment.

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