Residents’ behavioral intention to participate in neighborhood micro-renewal based on an extended theory of planned behavior: A case study in Shanghai, China

Abstract

Neighborhood micro-renewal (NMIR) plays a critical role in revitalizing old neighborhoods and urban sustainability. Public participation has attracted widespread concern to satisfy the multiple demands for social governance in China. Prior studies have underlined the promotion of communal participation, whereas collective characteristics and individual intentions of public behavior have been largely neglected. This study investigates determinants of residents' participation intention and behavior in a framework that incorporates the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the expectation-confirmation model (ECM). Based on structural equation modeling (SEM), the empirical analysis was conducted with questionnaires completed by 443 residents who dwell in a neighborhood undergoing micro-renewal. The results indicated that residents' participatory intention and behavior were predicted by subjective norms, behavioral attitudes, and perceived behavioral control. In addition, perceived usefulness positively affected behavioral intention, whereas the impact of satisfaction was not significant. Furthermore, community attachment could positively moderate the effect of intention on behavior. Accordingly, several targeted managerial implications regarding public participation in NMIR are proposed. This study extends the TPB into the practice of public involvement on a neighborhood scale and provides insightful ideas to promote residents’ participation awareness.