Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Journal

This mixed-methods, cross-cultural exploratory research study investigates the construct of place attachment by integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches across diverse geographic and cultural contexts. Study 1 employed focus groups in the United States, Spain, and Singapore to identify core predictors of emotional bonds to place, including autonomy, psychological security, personal growth, and social belonging. Thematic analyses revealed autonomy in movement, safety, opportunities for self-development, and cultural fit as key factors shaping attachment to meaningful places. Study 2 quantitatively examined these predictors using a Place Attachment Scale and Place Attachment Predictors Scale in a sample of 150 U.S.-based adult participants, stratified by ethnicity and migration background. Results from correlational and regression analyses demonstrated moderate to strong associations between attachment and predictors such as self-sufficiency, cultural belonging, community belonging, personal memories, knowledge of place, and growth. Interaction effects indicated that relational mobility and autonomy influence place attachment differently by ethnic group. Broadly, the findings highlight the multifaceted nature of place attachment, suggesting a conceptual alignment with psychosocial attachment theory and underscoring the importance of sensorimotor interaction, community integration, and personal agency in fostering the development of the individual person-place bond.