Greater place attachment to urban parks enhances relaxation: Examining affective and cognitive responses of locals and bi-cultural migrants to virtual park visits

This work is an experimental contribution to assessing the relationship between place attachment and well-being in urban parks in a mobility and migratory context. Using virtual park visits, we aimed at finding out whether place attachment and familiarity with parks are related to physiological responses, i.e. relaxation/arousal. The experimental study involved bi-cultural residents and locals who were invited to experience two comparable urban parks in an audio-visual laboratory. The virtual visit included a Persian Garden in Iran and a historic park in Switzerland. During the session, subjects' affective responses were measured via skin conductance activity and a questionnaire was used to collect information on aspects of place attachment/identity and perceptual prop-erties. Statistical analyses show that place attachment and familiarity with the cultural background of a park have a significant influence on the affective responses, particularly relaxation. In addition, we find some experimental evidence that measurable place attachment has developed among bi-cultural migrants in their new place of residence. Results fit well to theories of place attachment that are compiled in the article.

Automated summary

This study aims to assess the relationship between place attachment and well-being in urban parks in a mobility and migratory context through virtual park visits. The experimental study involved bi-cultural residents and locals who experienced two comparable urban parks in an audio-visual laboratory. Statistical analyses show that place attachment and familiarity with the cultural background of a park have a significant influence on affective responses, particularly relaxation. Additionally, there is experimental evidence that measurable place attachment has developed among bi-cultural migrants in their new place of residence. The results align well with theories of place attachment presented in the article.