Place attachment and mobility in the context of job‐induced multilocal dwelling—The case of China

Abstract

AbstractThis study aims to understand the relationship between place attachment and mobility in a job‐induced multilocal dwelling context. Multilocal dwelling entails a long‐distance commute and having another residence in addition to the primary domestic one for job‐related purposes. From the mobility perspective, this study posits that a place should be understood as dynamic and relational, and place attachment as networked and flexible. Relying on interview data, this study identifies three distinct modes of relationship between place attachment and mobility—namely, disruption, compensation, and expansion. The findings reveal that under diverse modes, the characteristics of place attachment to different places of residence are distinct and determined by the interaction of mobility with materiality, social relations, and meaning construction in places. It sheds light on people‐place relationships in the context of job‐induced multilocal dwellings in China. Furthermore, it contributes to the understanding of the highly‐debated relationships between place attachment and mobility.