Does residential stability lead to civic participation?: The mediating role of place attachment

Abstract

Residential stability is the cornerstone of healthy community living, as it creates the context for social interaction and active community participation. In the Republic of Korea, urban projects have recently been requiring civic participation in the process of community development, raising the need for residents' active participation. In response to this trend, this study aims to substantiate the relationships between residential stability and civic participation, focusing on the mediating role of place attachment. This study explores residential stability in two measurements – residential length and homeownership status. Applying a structural equation model, this study first empirically verifies that residents with longer residential lengths tend to be more attached to their environment and community, which leads to greater civic participation. Furthermore, the mediating role of place attachment in linking residential length to civic participation is more prominent for homeowners than renters. Based on the empirical results, this study concludes that housing policies that secure residential stability can effectively reinforce residents' active involvement in community planning and development.