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Flood risk the role of neighbourhood attachment

Authors:
Marino Bonaiuto at Sapienza University of Rome
Marino Bonaiuto
Stefano De Dominicis at University of Copenhagen
Stefano De Dominicis
Ferdinando Fornara at Università degli studi di Cagliari
Ferdinando Fornara
Uberta Ganucci Cancellieri at University for foreigners of Reggio Calabria
Uberta Ganucci Cancellieri
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Flood Risk: the Role of Neighbourhood Attachment
M. Bonaiuto1, 2, S. De Dominicis1, 2, F. Fornara2, 3, U. Ganucci Cancellieri4 and B. Mosco1
1 Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy
2 CIRPA - Interuniversity Centre for Research in Environmental Psychology, Italy
3 Università di Cagliari, Italy
4 Università per Stranieri "Dante Alighieri", Reggio di Calabria, Italy
E-mail: marino.bonaiuto@uniroma1.it
Abstract
Research has suggested that place attachment is related to environmental variables.
Nonetheless, empirical research lacks on place attachment and environmental risk perception.
This study investigate if Neighbourhood Attachment (NA) - place attachment for one’s own
neighbourhood - affects flood risk perception and flood related coping behaviours, taking into
consideration objective Risk Area (RA). Literature based hypotheses are: 1) RA main effect
on Environmental Risk (ER) variables (higher ER with higher RA); 2) NA main effect on ER
(higher ER with higher NA). Differences on risk perception, flood concern, relative flood
concern, and then attitude toward behaviour and behavioural intention and flood coping
behaviour (pertaining three domains) are investigated with a 2x2 design: NA (low vs. high)
by RA (low vs. high). First hypothesis: high (vs. low) RA enhances flood risk perception,
concern, attitude, intention and behaviour (item collecting and advice to neighbours). Second
hypothesis: high (vs. low) NA enhances flood risk perception, concern, intention (item
collecting and advice to neighbours). Moreover, two interaction effects NA by RA on attitude
and behaviour show: only in low (vs. high) RA, high (vs. low) NA citizens are higher in
attitude and behaviour (item collecting). Information finding (attitude, intention and
behaviour) is never affected by both NA and RA.
Introduction
The aim of this contribution is to test the role of place attachment within the context of an
environmental risk, with the general hypothesis that place attachment would represent a
positive feature for improving environmental risk local responses of citizens, on the basis of
scientific literature about place attachment and people environmental perception, evaluation
and behaviours. Starting from a brief literature summary on environmental risk and place
attachment, this study focuses on the relationship of Neighbourhood Attachment (NA) with
flood risk perception, concern, attitude, intention, coping behaviours, within two specific
flood Risk Areas (RAs) at different risk levels.
Environmental risk
Hydro-geological disasters, such as floods, represent one of the most hazardous
environmental risks of our time [1]. Data from the Italian Ministry for the Environment and
Territory reveal that 81.9% of Italian municipalities are exposed to high or very high hydro-
geological risk levels. The damage caused by hydro-geological phenomena affecting Italy in
the last few years has been very considerable, both in terms of economic aspects and loss of
human life. For these reasons, increasing disaster preparedness by implementing emergencies
planning activities and promoting the adoption by citizens of specific protective behaviours is
just as essential as mitigating the risk with engineering or architectural works designed to
make area safe. It would therefore seem useful, in line with an interdisciplinary approach to
environmental problems, to acquire data and information on individuals and communities
living in areas exposed to hydro-geological risk in order to understand their perceived flood
risk perception which can be relevant for their flood risk coping behaviour: in high risk
perception conditions people tend to enact proactive behaviours [2]. This helps understanding
whether and to what extent people living in these zones have adopted the necessary
perceptions and behaviours to adaptively deal with future catastrophic local flooding events.
Moreover, this kind of data would help in understanding social-psychological processes
underlying such risk perceptions and behaviours in order to improve flood risk
communication management.
Place attachment
Among the social-psychological constructs which can be relevant for people-environment
transactions [3], place attachment refers to feelings, bonds, thoughts, and behavioural
intention that people develop over time with reference to their socio-physical environment [4].
In particular, the term “attachment” is rooted in Bowlby’s attachment theory [5] and relates to
affective and emotional patterns that connect people to places, similarly to their connections
with other people. The feelings we have toward our places (and the communities we live in)
play a role in defining our identity and giving meaning to life [6]. Thus, the aspects that define
place attachment render it somewhat overlapping with other constructs, such as place identity
[7][8], place dependence [9], place belongingness [10], rootedness [11], sense of place [12],
and sense of community [13]. However, place attachment acquired a theoretical and empirical
status in the last 50 years, after the first studies of the psychological correlates of people
forced removal from their places [14], showing how it can be related to environmental
perceptions, evaluation, behaviours, either as a driver [15] or as a consequence [16]. On the
whole, place attachment significantly relate with a number of features regarding people-
environment relationship [6]. For example, a study about the forced removal from the settlers
of the Gaza Strip [17] assessed emotional distress measured by “Demoralization Scale of
Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview” [18] (D-PERI) and others variables such as:
disengagement process and social capital (place attachment and social support), or risk
perception about personal security. The results showed that place attachment was inversely
related to D-PERI and that current satisfaction with life situation was associated with greater
place attachment and less risk perception. Coming more specifically to the role of place
attachment for risk perception, concern, evaluations, behaviours, there is a lack of empirical
research. One very recent exception explored how place attachment (measured in three
different kinds: genealogical, economic and religious) in flood prone areas (Orissa, India)
affects citizens floods preparedness [19]. Results revealed that people having higher (vs.
lower) genealogical and economic place attachment are more prepared for floods, while
different levels of religious place attachment did not discriminate in flood preparedness. One
specific form of place attachment is Neighbourhood Attachment (NA) [20] which refers to the
neighbourhood the person is living in. Though NA has been already researched in terms of its
relations with some environmental features (perceptions, evaluation, behaviours) [16][21], it
has never been tested in terms of its consequences for risk related perceptions and actions.
Therefore, the present study investigates if NA affects flood risk perception, concern, attitude,
intention and hypothetical flood related coping behaviours, taking also into consideration
different objective risk area.
Aim and hypotheses
The general aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between Neighbourhood
Attachment (NA) and several Environmental Risk (ER) features – flood risk perception,
concern, attitude, intention and coping behaviours – taking also into account the effect of
objective risk area. Two general hypotheses are tested in the present study, each one detailed
into five operational hypotheses:
1. Risk Area main effect on ER variables (higher ER with higher RA):
1a-e) The main effect of RA is hypothesised on Flood Risk Perception, Concern,
Attitude toward flood related behaviour, flood related Behavioural Intention, Flood
Coping Behaviour. Attitude, Intention and Behaviour pertain to three domains: Collect
Items (CI), Advice to Neighbours (AN), and Information Finding (IF). Citizens who
live in a high RA show higher scores for: risk perception, flood concern, attitude
toward flood related behaviour, flood related behavioural intention, flood coping
behaviour.
2. Neighbourhood Attachment main effect on ER variables (higher ER with higher NA):
2a-e) The main effect of NA is hypothesised on flood risk Perception, Concern,
Attitude toward flood related behaviour, flood related behavioural Intention, Flood
Coping Behaviour (with Attitude, Intention and Behaviour pertaining to three reported
above). Higher attached citizens show higher scores for risk perception, flood concern,
attitude toward flood related behaviour, flood related behavioural intention, flood
coping behaviour.
Method
Sample
The survey was conducted both in a fluvial/pluvial and coastal/pluvial contexts. Areas were
chosen after a qualitative study of Authorities knowledge, and after a quantitative preliminary
study conducted to understanding citizens flood knowledge systems and flood experiences. A
purposive sampling procedure was used because it was important to include in the sample
household and/or workers and/or students in flood risk areas that experienced flooding in the
past. Two case study areas are used: one to sample in a low RA (Prima Porta and Labaro areas
in Rome) and one to sample in a high RA (Bivona and Vibo Marina areas in Vibo Valentia).
N=442 (47.3% in Low RA and 52.7% in High RA); Gender: 50% female; Age range
clustered in 5 groups (20-29: 17%; 30-39: 22%; 40-49: 25%; 50-59: 18%; 60-69: 18%);
Educational Level: 7% Primary School, 19% Secondary School, 52% High School, 20%
Degree, 2% Post-Degree; Profession: 40% Full-Time, 8% Part-Time, 10% Unemployed, 14%
Retired, 12% Housewife, 9% Student, 7% Other job.
Tool, measures and procedure
The ad-hoc questionnaire was composed by the following measures:
“Risk Perception”, including 5 items which concern flood risk perception (it has been
created with 3 items [22] and other 2 ad-hoc created items to which respondents
indicated their level of agreement on a 5-point scale). All the items of the
questionnaire are words or sentences to which respondents were asked to indicate their
level of agreement or disagreement.
“Attitude toward flood related behaviour” and “Flood related behavioural intention”
are measured separately for the three specific domains as respectively a 5-item
average [23] and 1 item [24], respectively measured according to a semantic
differential and a 5-point response scale; c) hypothetical “Flood Coping Behaviours”
are measured separately for the each one of the three specific domains, as: the sum of
3 items for “information finding”, the sum of 2 items for “item collecting”, and 1 item
for “advice to neighbours”; responses are given dichotomously (no/yes) to each
behaviour in the 6-behaviour list (within a wider list); d) “Flood Concern” is measured
by one item with a 5-point response scale; e) Neighbourhood Attachment is the
average of a NA short scale [20], 4 items measured by a 7-point response scale. For
e
w
t
i
s
Anal
y
s
e
After a
verifie
d
NA) re
p
high N
A
and thi
r
Varian
c
compar
e
Resu
l
H
y
pot
h
In gene
r
The 2x
2
RA on
R
24.515;
F(1;23
8
Fisher’
probabi
alternat
i
RA has
Behavi
o
H
y
pot
h
In gene
r
Figur
e
The 2x
2
NA on
5.338;
p
Behavi
o
Intenti
o
e
ach case s
t
w
ithin pub
l
t
he questi
o
i
nstruction
s
sample.
e
s
preliminar
y
d
, in order
t
p
resenting
t
A
sub-sam
p
r
d percentil
e
c
e (ANOV
A
e
each sub-
l
ts
h
esis 1 res
u
r
al terms, h
y
2
ANOVA
R
isk Perce
p
p = .000,
o
8
) = 4.952;
s
F, i.e. th
e
lity associ
a
i
ve hypoth
e
no main
e
o
ur.
h
esis 2 res
u
r
al terms, h
y
e
1: Mean s
c
R
2
ANOVA
Risk Perce
p
p
= .022,
o
o
ur with F(
o
n and Beh
a
t
udy, the p
r
l
ic places
c
o
nnaire vo
l
s
and supp
o
y
data scre
e
t
o justify t
h
t
he variabl
e
p
les have b
e
e
(n=137).
T
A
) was per
f
sample in
e
u
lts
y
pothesis 1
and One-
w
p
tion with
F
o
n CI Inte
n
p = .027
e
statistical
a
ted to th
e
e
sis, i.e. th
e
e
ffect on IF
u
lts
y
pothesis 2
c
ores on th
e
R
isk Are
a
and One-
w
p
tion with
F
o
n CI Inte
n
1;256) = 3.
a
viour, on
C
r
oce
d
ure w
a
c
ontexts, su
l
untarily i
n
o
rted by o
n
e
ning, the f
a
h
e creation
e
s inserted
e
en create
d
T
o test eac
h
f
ormed on
e
ach of the
s
is partiall
y
w
ay ANO
V
F
(1;259) =
2
n
tion with
F
and Intenti
value whi
c
e
null hyp
o
e
significa
n
Attitude,
I
is partiall
y
e
ER factor
s
w
ay ANO
V
F
(1;259) =
n
tion with
F
7
18; p = .0
5
C
I Attitude
a
a
s a face-to
-
u
ch as squa
r
n
about te
n
n
e of sever
a
a
ctorial str
u
of the agg
r
in the foll
o
d
by selecti
n
h
one of th
e
each ER
fa
s
ignificant
m
y
confirme
d
V
A show th
e
21.753; p
=
F
(1;260) =
4
i
on with F
(
c
h is used
f
o
thesis (p
v
n
ce of the
d
I
ntention a
n
y
confirme
d
s
by Fi
g
V
A show th
e
6.289; p =
F
(1;260) =
55 (Figure
a
nd on AN
A
-
face admi
n
r
es, market
s
n
-fifteen
m
a
l research
e
u
cture and t
h
r
egate scor
e
o
wing infer
e
n
g subjects
e
two main
a
cto
r
, as
w
m
ain effect
s
(Figure 1).
e
hypothes
i
=
.000, on
F
4
.347; p =
.
(
1;255) =
5
f
or the sign
v
alues bel
o
d
ifference
b
n
d Behavio
u
(Figure 2).
g
ure 2: Me
a
Neigh
b
e
hypothes
i
.013, on F
4.347; p
=
2). NA has
A
ttitude an
d
n
istration ei
t
s
and so o
n
m
inutes, wi
e
rs who rec
h
e reliabilit
y
e
s (for eac
h
e
ntial anal
y
belonging
t
hypothese
s
ell as a O
n
s
.
i
sed signifi
c
F
lood Conc
e
038, and o
n
5
.273; p =
i
ficance te
s
o
w .05 su
g
b
etween the
u
r, on CI
A
n
scores on
b
ourhood
A
i
sed signifi
c
l
ood Conc
e
.038, and
no main e
f
d
Intention.
t
her door-t
o
n
. Subjects
i
th written
c
ruited the
m
t
y of meas
u
h
ER facto
r
y
ses. Then,
to the first
s
, a 2x2 An
n
e-way A
N
cant main
e
e
rn with F(
n
AN Attit
u
.022. “F”
r
s
t, whilst “
p
g
gest to ac
e
compared
A
ttitude an
d
n
the ER fa
c
A
ttachment
cant main
e
e
rn with F(
a tendenc
y
f
fect on IF
A
o
-door or
filled in
general
m
for the
res were
r
and for
low and
(n=132)
alysis of
N
OVA to
e
ffect of
1;260) =
u
de with
r
efers to
p
” is the
cept the
means).
d
on AN
tors by
e
ffect of
1;260) =
y
on AN
A
ttitude,
Other
r
Other
n
signific
a
5.303;
p
Higher
for thos
Figu
r
Conc
l
As hyp
o
Concer
n
Intenti
o
high
N
Behavi
o
Attitud
e
further
s
Ackn
The A
u
Protezi
o
Uncert
a
CRUE
F
Refe
r
[1] Mi
c
ris
k
17
3
[2] Co
v
Jo
u
[3] Bo
n
Al
d
[4] Br
o
(E
d
Ple
[5] Bo
w
[6] Gi
u
Bo
n
r
esults
n
ot hypoth
e
a
nt interac
t
p
= .022 a
n
attached ci
t
s
e living in
L
r
e 3: Mean
s
l
usion
o
thesised i
n
n
, CI Inte
n
o
n, IF Beha
v
N
A is asso
o
ur, but no
t
e
and AN I
n
s
tudies.
owledg
e
u
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h
o
ne e Ricer
c
a
inty and
R
i
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unding In
i
r
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n
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U
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A
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a
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AN Beha
v
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t
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n
v
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n
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e
c
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s
r
ovided by
m
for the r
e
d
s – UR-F
L
e
r prepared
n
of Environ
m
e
alth risk an
5
-8.
o
logical the
o
e
attachme
n
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vironmen
t
l
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d
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nvironme
n
. The 2x2
t
ude meas
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= 5.954;
p
d
CI Beha
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k
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ot with h
i
y
pothesised
Concern,
e
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s
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e
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r
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i
v
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u
d
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u
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Perceptio
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i
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i
in Hp 2a-
2
CI Intent
i
C
I Attitude
R
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A
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ect “Unde
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r
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o
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Y
Bonnes M.
p
p. 137-17
0
*
shows a
1
;245) =
i
gure 3).
u
res only
u
rhood
n
, Flood
i
tude, IF
b-2d-2e,
i
on, AN
and AN
A
require
e
riore di
r
standing
E
RA-Net
f
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8
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... Vibo Valentia: high-risk area Bonaiuto et al., 2011;De Dominicis et al., 2014. Study 2 was designed to replicate the hypothesized mediation model for flood risk prevention with subjects recruited in a flood-prone area located in Romania (see Figure 1a for the geographical location of the contexts in both Study 1 and 2). ...
... The central aim of Study 1 is to understand the possible mediating role of vested interest in the relationship between past experience of flood risk and subsequent preventive behaviors. To reach this goal, we employ a three-step analytic approach: Analysis 1 is concerned with participants' perceptions of flood risk by assess- In Analysis 1, consistent with previous literature (Bonaiuto et al., 2011;De Dominicis et al., 2014, we hypothesize that inhabitants of an area at objectively higher risk, compared to those of an area at objectively lower risk, will report: (H1) higher past experience with floods, (H2) higher perceived levels of flood risk, (H3) more positive attitudes toward preventive behaviors for mitigating flood risk, (H4) higher vested interest in flood risk, and (H5) greater preventive behaviors for flood risk mitigation. In Analysis 2, also consistently to previous finding (De Dominicis et al., 2014), we hypothesize that (H6) vested interest moderates the relationship between attitude toward preventive behaviors and these behaviors, such that the attitude-behaviors relationship is maximized for higher levels of vested interest. ...
... In general, the municipalities of Rome and Vibo Valentia are substantially different from each other, respectively, counting ap- subject to low, moderate, and high hydro-geological risk (Bonaiuto et al., 2011). This pattern was reflected in the risk perceptions of inhabitants of the different areas. ...
De Dominicis et al, 2021
Article
  • Jan 2021
  • J APPL SOC PSYCHOL
Abstract Social psychology provides a treasure-trove of insights into adaptations that may limit the devastating effects of climate change. Vested Interest Theory may contribute to this knowledge base, suggesting that one's vested interest may significantly influence appropriate coping behaviors, as it is has been shown to enhance the relation between attitudes and self-relevant behaviors. The theory's utility is investigated in an environmental risk context. Here, we replicate previous research findings showing that citizens in high-risk areas perceived higher risk and stronger intentions to cope with it when vested interest perceptions were salient. Furthermore, the current studies investigate the behavioral effect of vested interest on coping with an environmental risk (flooding): results showed that vested interest significantly mediated the past experience–coping behaviors relationship. In Study 1’s mediation analysis (Rome and Vibo Valentia, Italy, N = 466), past experience of flood risk enhanced vested interest in flood risk, which in turn increased volunteering for flood prevention activities, thereby mitigating risk. In Study 2 (N = 391), the same mediation effect was replicated in the Timis region, a high flood risk area in western Romania. These results shed light on literature inconsistencies on this topic, providing insights for the theoretical understanding of the relationship between past experience of a given risk and related coping behaviors, possibly shedding light to the risk perception paradox. These insights may drive effective intervention strategies to enhance people's behavioral coping with environmental risks.
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... Two studies were designed to investigate the mediating role of vested interest in flood risk on the relationship between past experience of such a risk and preventive behaviors for coping with the risk. Study 1 was designed to specifically test this mediation model, and encompasses a sample of Italians recruited within two areas differing on their official level of flood risk proneness (Rome: low-risk area; Vibo Valentia: high-risk area; Bonaiuto, De Dominicis, Fornara, Ganucci Cancellieri, & Mosco, 2011;De Dominicis et al., 2014;De Dominicis, Fornara, Ganucci Cancellieri, Twigger-Ross, & Bonaiuto, 2015). Study 2 was designed to replicate the hypothesized Experience, Vested Interest and Coping Behaviors 13 mediation model for flood risk prevention with subjects recruited in a flood-prone area located in Romania (see figure 1A for the geographical location of the contexts in both Study 1 and 2). ...
... In Analysis 1, consistent with previous literature (Bonaiuto et al., 2011;De Dominicis et al., 2014, we hypothesize that inhabitants of an area at objectively higher risk, compared to those of an area at objectively lower risk, will report: (H1) higher past experience with floods, (H2) higher perceived levels of flood risk, (H3) more positive attitudes toward preventive behaviors for mitigating flood risk, (H4) higher vested interest in flood risk, and (H5) greater preventive behaviors for flood risk Experience,Vested Interest and Coping Behaviors 14 mitigation. In Analysis 2, also consistently to previous finding (De Dominicis et al., 2014), we hypothesize that (H6) vested interest moderates the relationship between attitude toward preventive behaviors and these behaviors, such that the attitude-behaviors relationship is maximized for higher levels of vested interest. ...
... Data, 2020) However, according to Italian national and local authorities (Protezione Civile il Comune di Roma, 2006), the urban sub-sections 20L and 20M of the XV municipality of Rome (namely, Labaro and Prima Porta) and the sub-section 4D of the III municipality of Rome (namely, Fidene)-all three subsections together adjoin and count around 38000 inhabitants and 60km 2 -are indeed comparable to the municipality of Vibo Valentia (figure 1B) in terms of hydro-geological risk (mainly as river flood, and also as rainfall and landslide): specifically, the three subsections of the municipalities in Rome are comparable to three neighborhood in Vibo Valentina, all respectively defined as subject to low, moderate, and high hydro-geological risk (Bonaiuto et al., 2011). This pattern was reflected in the risk perceptions of inhabitants of the different areas. ...
Experience, Vested Interest and Coping Behaviors 1 Experiencing, Caring, Coping: Vested Interest mediates the effect of Past Experience on Coping Behaviors in Environmental Risk Contexts Experience, Vested Interest and Coping Behaviors 2 Experiencing, Caring, Coping: Vested Interest mediates the effect of Past Experience on Coping Behaviors in Environmental Risk Contexts
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 2020
Social psychology provides a treasure-trove of insights into adaptations that may limit the devastating effects of climate change. Vested Interest Theory may contribute to this knowledge base, suggesting that one's vested interest may significantly influence appropriate coping behaviors, as it is has been shown to enhance the relation between attitudes and self-relevant behaviors. The theory's utility is investigated in an environmental risk context. Here we replicate previous research findings showing that citizens in high-risk areas perceived higher risk and stronger intentions to cope with it when vested interest perceptions were salient. Furthermore, the current studies investigate the behavioral effect of vested interest on coping with an environmental risk (flooding): results showed that vested interest significantly mediated the past experience-coping behaviors relationship. In Study 1's mediation analysis (Rome and Vibo Valentia, Italy, N = 466), past experience of flood risk enhanced vested interest in flood risk, which in turn increased volunteering for flood prevention activities, thereby mitigating risk. In Study 2 (N = 391), the same mediation effect was replicated in the Timis region, a high-flood risk area in western Romania. These results shed light on literature inconsistencies on this topic, providing insights for the theoretical understanding of the relationship between past experience of a given risk and related coping behaviors, possibly shedding light to the risk perception paradox. These insights may drive effective intervention strategies to enhance people's behavioral coping with environmental risks.
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... house and neighbourhood) is correlated positively with disaster preparedness (Anton & Lawrence, 2016;Mishra et al., 2010;Xu, Peng, Liu, & Wang, 2018) and that place attachment is associated with better behavioural coping in the face of high natural hazard risk (Stancu et al., 2020). This link might be stronger if the perceived or objective risk is low (Bonaiuto, De Dominicis, Fornara, Ganucci Cancellieri, & Mosco, 2011;De Dominicis, Fornara, Ganucci Cancellieri, Twigger-Ross & Bonaiuto, 2015), but it is also found in high risk populations (Wallis, Fischer, & Abrahamse, 2021). ...
... We also add a true control condition of people who did not engage in any visualisation task. Furthermore, local place attachment (house and neighbourhood) is positively correlated with disaster preparedness (Anton & Lawrence, 2016;Bonaiuto et al., 2011;Mishra et al., 2010;, whereas correlations with larger spatial scales are often weaker. This suggests that local attachment may be particularly relevant for people's decision to prepare for natural hazard events (Wallis et al., 2021). ...
Does place visualisation increase household preparedness for natural hazard events? A longitudinal intervention
Article
  • Jan 2021
Novel approaches are needed to increase preparedness behaviours in populations with high disaster risk. Crucially, such approaches need to take into account the relationships that people have with place. We report a randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of an online place attachment mental visualisation task to increase preparedness behaviours. Findings from a pilot (Study 1) using pre and post-test measures showed mixed evidence for the influence of mental visualisation on place attachment. Using a pre-registered randomised controlled trial with a two-week follow-up in a community sample (Study 2), we expected that visualising one’s house or neighbourhood would result in stronger intentions to prepare, and greater implementation of preparedness behaviours at a follow-up, when compared to visualising a neutral place. Findings showed no main effect of visualisation on survival, mitigation, or community preparedness behaviours. These studies broadly indicate that our online mental place visualisation task was not sufficient to influence preparedness behaviours. We discuss implications of these findings for the advancement of place attachment theory and behaviour-change techniques.
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... Such a weak correlation between sense of community and flood preparedness might be explained by the impact of risk perception [35][36][37][38]. Specifically, study among Italians found that a high neighborhood attachment score (akin to a sense of community) led to higher flood risk perception and related flood concern among residents and that this led to more preparation actions [68]. On the contrary, Armaş [69] justified that strong sense of community offers a feeling of safety (lower risk perceptions) and leads to the neglect of the natural disaster, which diminishes preparation against the forthcoming disaster. ...
Determinants of flood risk awareness and preparedness among citizens: the case of Jordan
Conference Paper
Full-text available
  • Jun 2022
Developing countries are often severely impacted by natural disasters. However, the level of their disaster preparedness is often minimal and the determinants of such levels are understudied. To address this issue, this study evaluated the relationship between self-efficacy, sense of community, past experience and flood risk preparedness in the developing country of Jordan. The study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational research design with 300 adult participants. All participants were citizens in the four Jordanian cities (Amman, Madaba, Ma’an and Balqa) that were most impacted by flooding disasters in 2018 and 2019. Multiple regression analysis determined the relationship between the independent variables of self-efficacy, sense of community, and past experience and the dependent variable of flood risk preparedness. The results of the study indicated that all three independent variables had positive significant relationships with Jordanians’ flood risk preparedness. The strongest of these relationships was with self-efficacy, which had a correlation of r = 0.481, p < 0.01. We argue that self-efficacy may have a particularly strong relationship with flood risk preparedness because individuals with higher self-efficacy are those who are better empowered to instigate a greater quality and quantity of actions against disasters. Also, individuals with higher self-efficacy may have a greater ability to self-regulate their behaviours, they may have more confidence to participate in riskier situations and, therefore, may be better equipped to handle the negative emotions that might arise during the flooding disasters. The results of the study also indicated that many individuals in this sample of Jordanians did not take flood risk warnings seriously and often overlooked governmental risk communications. This may be because trust in governmental entities and the perceived effectiveness of risk warning and communication systems are relatively low in this region. These findings indicate that flood risk preparedness in Jordan could be improved by increasing self-efficacy and risk awareness. This might be achieved via a variety of communication channels and training approaches, as well as through the development of local and national flood emergency plans that can be established and implemented by individuals and regional communities. Recommendations for further research include quantitative or qualitative studies to understand better the connection between flood risk preparedness training, and determining how to improve disaster risk warning systems for individuals and communities in developing countries such as Jordan.
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... To conclude, place attachment is a key component in helping researchers to better understand decisions around disaster preparedness (Paton, 2019;Paton & Bürgelt, 2017;van Valkengoed & Steg, 2019;Xu et al., 2018). People with higher levels of place attachment to their houses, neighborhoods, and local areas (both place identity and place dependence), for instance, are more likely to prepare for possible floods and wildfires with survival, mitigation, and community actions (Anton & Lawrence, 2016;Bihari & Ryan, 2012;Bonaiuto et al., 2011;Brenkert-Smith, 2006;Collins, 2008;Ghasemi et al., 2020;Mishra et al., 2010;Stancu et al., 2020). Moreover, place attachment is associated with length of residence and home ownership and both, in turn, are associated with preparedness. ...
Place Attachment and Disaster Preparedness: Examining the Role of Place Scale and Preparedness Type
Article
  • Dec 2021
Research shows that place attachment is associated with disaster preparedness. In two studies we examined (1) participants’ place attachment at different spatial scales, (2) participants’ preparedness (intentions and behaviors), and (3) place attachment as a mediator of previously identified demographic predictors of preparedness. Our findings show that place attachment is associated with both preparedness intentions and behavior. When controlling for socio-demographic predictors, participants who reported stronger house and neighborhood attachment also reported stronger intentions to prepare (Study 1). In Study 2, house attachment was associated with mitigative preparedness behavior, whereas neighborhood attachment was associated with community preparedness behavior. House and neighborhood attachment mediated the relationship between home ownership, length of residence, and preparedness. These findings suggest that place attachment varies by spatial scale which matters for different types of disaster preparedness. House and neighborhood attachment should be considered as relevant predictors of mitigative and community preparedness in at-risk communities.
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... This social representational process enables individuals to symbolically integrate risk [39], which on a practical level, means that they can live with a risk in their living environment by constructing an acceptable risk representation [35,36] which they share with their local community they live in. Consequently, the links (meaning, attachment, etc.) that an individual builds with their community are very important in the process of the social construction of their living environment [40][41][42]. In this respect, place attachment [43][44][45][46][47] is an important variable in research on the construction of risk. ...
The social construction of coastal risks in two different cultural contexts: A study of marine erosion and flooding in France and Canada
Article
  • Dec 2021
With an increasing number of coastal issues associated with human pressure and exacerbated by climate change, this study examines how residents of coastal communities perceive their living environment and how they perceive risks in this environment and more particularly coastal risks (marine erosion and flooding). An international (Canada-France) questionnaire study was conducted among 190 people, approximately half of whom lived on New Brunswick's Acadian Coast and half on France's west coast. The results highlight, on the one hand, the residents' strong relationship with their coastal living environment and, on the other, a representation of coastal risks as an important area of concern for them. That said, the worry concerning these risks varied among the participants. The local and cultural context (media coverage of this issue and the country-specific risk management strategies) may explain the differences in attitude between the two countries.
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... In general, it appears that place attachment is an essential element to take into account in order to understand how an individual adapts to climate change and flooding. This goes in the direction of other studies led with inhabitants of flood-prone zones, which show positive relations between place attachment and behavioral engagement [8,103,104]. Furthermore, and given our results, strongly attached individuals may perceive climate change as being more concrete. ...
How do we adapt when we are faced with the effects of climate change?
Article
  • Sep 2021
As humanity faces the increasingly intense effects of climate change, it seems crucial that individuals adapt to this environmental issue. The means of assessing climate change and its impact are linked to the manner of adapting to the situation. It is pertinent to take place attachment into account in order to understand how an individual assesses and adapts to their environment. As the effects of climate change are various, different risky situations should be studied. Thus, this study aims to establish the relations between psychological distance regarding climate change, risk perception, place attachment and adaptation, when humans are exposed to the effects of climate change (flooding, droughts). 626 inhabitants of Santa Marta (Colombia), of whom 317 are rather exposed to flooding and 309 to droughts, participated in this research. The results show that low psychological distance relative to climate change is linked to higher risk perception and to adaptive behavior. Furthermore, place attachment can explain how an individual assesses their environment and adapts to it. These relations are direct or indirect, according to the risk under consideration. These various elements lead us to discuss the importance of considering the specificities of the environment in which individuals live and the pertinence of making climate change concrete in the eyes of the populations that are concerned.
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... At the same time, positive relationships between attachment and risk perception have been also reported. Bonaiuto et al. (2011) found that highly attached residents had increased flood risk perceptions even when they live in low flood risk places. ...
Person, Place, or Thing: Individual, Community, and Risk Information Seeking
Article
  • Jan 2021
This study focuses on the relationship between the community and the environment to explore (1) how community attachment affects residents’ risk perceptions and risk-coping strategies and (2) how risk knowledge is influenced by community-level psychological factors and, in turn, affects the decision to seek risk information. To find answers, 438 Texans were randomly surveyed on the topic of seismic activity induced by nearby natural gas extraction activities. The findings suggest that risk knowledge and risk information seeking intent are related to lower community attachment. Insights and implications related to the study have been provided for communication practitioners.
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... Although, a recent study by Greer, Binder, Thiel, Jamali, and Nejat (2020) highlighted the utility of these dimensions in explaining attitudes and behaviors in disaster-related contexts, to our knowledge, this relationship has not been tested previously in the context of wildfire. In the broader context of natural hazards, findings have varied; some reporting positive associations (e.g., Bernardo, 2013;Bonaiuto, Dominicis, Fornara, Ganucci Cancellieri, & Mosco, 2011;Burley, Jenkins, Laska, & Davis, 2007); some reporting negative (e.g., Armaş, 2006;Donovan, Suryanto, & Utami, 2012); and some reporting no association between place attachment and perceived risk (e.g., Groulx, Lewis, Lemieux, & Dawson, 2014;Y.-J. Lee, Tung, & Lin, 2019). ...
An examination of the social-psychological drivers of homeowner wildfire mitigation
Article
  • Jun 2020
Wildfire events have been impacting many parts of the United States. Of particular importance are the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas, where residential development exposes residents to increased risk from the threat of wildfire. However, evidence shows that WUI homeowners do not adequately mitigate risk through participation in programs such as Firewise USA®. In this investigation, we examined social-psychological factors that influence homeowners' intentions to adopt Firewise activities. Data were collected from a random sample of 1633 households in three wildfire-prone WUI areas of southern California. Structural equation modeling results illustrated that homeowners' perceived effectiveness of Firewise activities, along with their perceived risk of wildfire, significantly influenced their intentions to adopt suggested activities. We also found that respondents' past experience with wildfire and home attachment increased their intentions to adopt Firewise activities. Furthermore, the congruence between agency's and individuals' values (i.e., salient value similarity) increased homeowners' trust in agency management and information, and, subsequently, their perceptions of the effectiveness of wildfire risk mitigation activities. Alternately, past experience with wildfire diminished trust in agencies responsible for wildland fire mitigation. Our findings shed light on the ambiguities surrounding the role of past experience, risk perception, and place attachment in hazard preparedness. In addition to risk communication and promoting action effectiveness, our findings illustrate the importance of integrating cognitive heuristics and emotional bonds along with existing rational, evaluative models of decision-making to encourage homeowners' wildfire risk mitigation behavior.
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The better the bond, the better we cope. The effects of place attachment intensity and place attachment styles on the link between perception of risk and emotional and behavioral coping
Article
  • Dec 2020
The general aim is to advance the understanding of the role of both place attachment intensity and place attachment styles for adaptive coping strategies with flood risk. Place attachment styles are operationalized as secure, preoccupied, and fearful-avoidant. Risk coping strategies are conceptualized as emotional (i.e., distress), and behavioral coping strategies (i.e., positive, negative, and avoidant). Two main cross-sectional studies were conducted in both high and low-risk areas: one study in Italy (N = 100) and one study in Romania (N = 391). The first study aims to test the moderating effect of place attachment intensity and place attachment styles both on the relation between perception of risk and distress; and on the relation between perception of risk and positive, avoidant and negative behavioral coping. The second study tests the effects of place attachment styles on the relation between the objective risk level and both emotional and behavioral coping. Results show that, in the high-risk context, people with a higher place attachment or having a secure bond with the place, are more likely to feel distress, and less likely to use avoidant coping strategies when the perceived risk is high. As for the low-risk context, people having a fearful-avoidant bond are more inclined to choose avoidant coping when the perceived risk is high. When taking into account the actual risk level, and not the perceived risk, people with a secure bond will more likely choose positive coping, as opposed to people with a fearful-avoidant place attachment when exposed to a higher risk. Place attachment style can thus be a relevant variable affecting strategies of environmental risk coping, at both emotional and behavioral level: specifically, a secure place attachment style, though favoring psychological distress, can improve a more constructive and adaptive behavioral strategy in face of higher perceived or objective flood risk.
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The moderating role of place attachment on the relationship between attitudes toward fees and spending preferences
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2003
The variable, place attachment, has recently been used by investigators to assist in understanding visitor responses to fee programs on public lands. This paper examines the relationship between place attachment (i.e., place identity and place dependence), attitudes toward paying fees, and visitor preferences for spending fee revenue within the context of social judgment theory. It was hypothesized that both place dependence and place identity would moderate the relationship between recreationists' attitudes toward the site's fee program and visitor support for spending revenue generated by the fee program in the areas of facilities and service development, environmental protection, and environmental education. Data were collected at Mono Basin Scenic Area over the summer of 1998. Results indicated that only place identity was a statistically significant moderator, such that it magnified the relationship between recreationists' attitudes toward the fee program and spending support. As place identity increased and recreationists' attitudes toward the fee program became more positive, support for spending fee revenue also increased. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.
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Cross-Validation of Abbreviated Perceived Residential Environment Quality (PREQ) and Neighborhood Attachment (NA) Indicators
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2010
This article presents the validation by confirmatory factor analysis of abbreviated versions of instruments focusing on the neighborhood residential level, perceived residential environment quality indicators (PREQIs), and neighborhood attachment (NA). A sample of 1,488 residents in various neighborhoods of 11 Italian middle- and low-population cities filled in a questionnaire including 12 scales (N = 158), 11 PREQ scales, and 1 NA scale. The sample was randomly split-half in a calibration sample and a validation sample. Results showed good fit indexes for factorial structures including overall 19 PREQIs and 1 NA indicators, each one composed of three or four items (N = 66). Despite the high reduction of items, the shortened PREQIs and NA yield good or at least acceptable internal consistency, and fulfill convergent and discriminant construct validity criteria. Hence, they are well suited for use in research designs focusing on multiple measures of environmental quality of residential places.
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Place and Identity Processes
Article
Full-text available
  • Sep 1996
This paper examines the role of place and identity processes using Breakwell's model as a framework. This model suggests that there are four principles of identity which guide action: continuity, self-esteem, self-efficacy and distinctiveness. These principles are examined here in relation to attachment to a residential environment. It focuses on residents living in an area of the London Docklands, chosen because of the social, environmental and economic change in that area. It was hypothesized that attached respondents would discuss their relationship with the local environment in ways which supported or developed the identity principles whereas nonattached residents would not consider the local environment in this way. Twenty in-depth semi-structured interviews were carried out on a sample of residents from Rotherhithe in the London Docklands. The interviews were transcribed and content analysed. Results showed that there were differences between the attached and nonattached respondents in their discussion of their local environment. In addition, there were differences within the nonattached group such that some residents were not attached and neutral with regards to their residential environment, whereas others were not attached but had a negative evaluation of their residential environment. These results are discussed within the identity process model framework.
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Neighborhood Evaluation within a Multiplace Perspective on Urban Activities
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2004
Within place theory, the research investigated relationships between activities carried out in a place and evaluative aspects of the same place. In the study, 152 inhabitants, ages 18 to 55, all living in the same neighborhood of Rome (Italy) were sampled by sex. An individual questionnaire included three scales to measure frequency of activities (23 items for neighborhood, 32 items for city center, and 11 items for suburbs) and a 47-item scale to measure degree of satisfaction/dissatisfaction toward various aspects of neighborhood. Multivariate data analyses identified four groups of inhabitants (neighborhood confined, marginal escape users, multiplace hyperactive, and quality users), each characterized by a specific pattern of multiplace urban activity. Each group was characterized by sociodemographic and/or residential variables. Finally, each group was also characterized by a specific pattern of neighborhood evaluations, with respect to three main aspects (building/population density and uninhabitability, social-spatial insecurity, and functional inadequacy/unavailability).
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The Moderating Role of Place Attachment on the Relationship Between Attitudes Toward Fees and Spending Preferences
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2003
The variable, place attachment, has recently been used by investigators to assist in understanding visitor responses to fee programs on public lands. This paper examines the relationship between place attachment (i.e., place identity and place dependence), attitudes toward paying fees, and visitor preferences for spending fee revenue within the context of social judgment theory. It was hypothesized that both place dependence and place identity would moderate the relationship between recreationists' attitudes toward the site's fee program and visitor support for spending revenue generated by the fee program in the areas of facilities and service development, environmental protection, and environmental education. Data were collected at Mono Basin Scenic Area over the summer of 1998. Results indicated that only place identity was a statistically significant moderator, such that it magnified the relationship between recreationists' attitudes toward the fee program and spending support. As place identity increased and recreationists' attitudes toward the fee program became more positive, support for spending fee revenue also increased. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.
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Sense of Place in Developmental Context
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 1998
Sense of place differs from place attachment by considering the social and geographical context of place bonds and the sensing of places, such as aesthetics and a feeling of dwelling. Insider status and local ancestry are important toward the development of a more rooted sense of place. Three contexts are used to examine the development of sense of place: residential status in the place (superficial, partial, personal, ancestral, and cultural senses of place); age stage, as in development across the life cycle, using a psychodynamic model (after Erikson and Vaillant); and development of the adult pair bond, most often in marriage. Being raised in the place affected feelings of rootedness, particularly for Maori peoples who have ties to tribal territory. Interactions were found among place and pair bonds, and multigenerational patterns were noted for ancestral and cultural senses of place, with sense of place styles passed from parent to child. Modern society, due especially to high levels of residential mobility, tends to develop more of a partial or personal sense of place among its members. Sequential stages in the development of a sense of place were most evident among those who were raised in the place and spent most of their lives there: embryonic (childhood to adolescent); commitment (early to mid adulthood); and culmination (mid adulthood to old age). These became apparent in phenomenological and statistical analyses of responses from 270 adult residents of Banks Peninsula, New Zealand, of both Maori and European descent. Additional interviews were conducted with 80 adult out-migrants from the Peninsula; brief surveys were also done of tourists, long-term campers, holiday home owners, and resident school children on Banks Peninsula. Models of place attachment need to be reconsidered, as does the value of developing a sense of place based more on ancestral and cultural connections. Such a sense of place is considered to be of benefit to individuals and to modern society.@ 1998 Academic Press
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Multidimensional perception of residential environment quality and neighborhood attachment in the urban environment
Article
Full-text available
  • Dec 1999
This study tests a path model in which residential satisfaction, operationalized in terms of multidimensional perceived residential environment quality (PREQ), predicts neighbourhood attachment considered as the final criterion. Socio-demographic (age, sex, socio-economic level) and residential (length of residence both in the neighbourhood and in Rome, number of persons living together) variables are also included in the theoretical model as predictors of both PREQ and neighbourhood attachment. Using a multidimensional questionnaire for the measurement of PREQ and a unidimensional scale for the measurement of neighbourhood attachment, the study focuses on a sample of 497 inhabitants from 20 different neighbourhoods in the city of Rome. The multidimensional PREQ questionnaire comprises 20 different scales covering four main areas: architectural and town-planning features (six scales); social relations features (three scales); punctual and in-network services (six scales); context features (five scales). First, the path model is tested separately in each area using structural equation analysis. Then, the best predictors emerging from each area, together with all socio-demographic and residential variables, are included in a final model. This model shows both the relevance of predictors from all four areas in predicting attachment, and also a hierarchy between the areas in the power of the prediction (context area giving the most powerful predictors, services giving the weakest ones, architectural and town-planning, and social relations having intermediate importance). Length of residence in the neighbourhood and socio-economic level are the most relevant of the residential and socio-demographic variables. Results are discussed with reference to the multicomponential nature of the process of neighbourhood attachment.
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