Solastalgia, place attachment and disruption: insights from a coastal community on the front line

Christopher Phillips,Conor Murphy

doi:10.1007/s10113-021-01778-y

Christopher Phillips, Conor Murphy

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-021-01778-y

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Abstract

We explore how solastalgia, a concept that describes distress and inability to derive solace from one’s environment caused by disruptive environmental change, is currently being experienced by a community in southeast Ireland as they struggle to cope with place disruption through loss of a beach by coastal erosion. We analyse relationships between empirical measurements of solastalgia, place attachment and place disruption as well as their association with community outlook for the future. Results indicate that solastalgia, resulting from loss of place, is experienced by almost half of residents, especially those who have lived in the area >20 years. Seasonal variation exists for residents who experience the highest levels of solastalgia, with expression strongest in summer. We find that solastalgia is positively correlated with place attachment; those having higher levels of place attachment express stronger feelings of solastalgia and impacts to their lives due to loss of place. Place attachment is most weakly expressed through place dependence, suggesting ongoing adaptation of relationships with place. We find that solastalgia is positively correlated with negative statements regarding future outlook. However, negative outlooks are moderated for those with high levels of place attachment, despite experiencing solastalgia. Given the vulnerability of coastal environments and communities to climate change, understanding and assessing solastalgia will be critical to helping communities navigate environmental disruption.

Highlights

Loss of place can have profound impacts on individual and community emotional and psychological well-being, sense of identity and ability to cope with further environmental change (Marshall et al 2019; Adger et al 2017; Barnett et al 2016; Fresque-Baxter and Armitage 2012; Connor et al 2004; Albrecht 2005)
Solastalgia was most strongly correlated with length of residence in the community and expression strongest for those who have lived in Courtown/Riverchapel for more than 20 years
We found place attachment and the experience of solastalgia to be strongly positively correlated

Summary

Introduction

Loss of place can have profound impacts on individual and community emotional and psychological well-being, sense of identity and ability to cope with further environmental change (Marshall et al 2019; Adger et al 2017; Barnett et al 2016; Fresque-Baxter and Armitage 2012; Connor et al 2004; Albrecht 2005). Albrecht (2019) discusses how chronic changes to landscape (e.g. persistent flooding) may have cumulative impacts that gradually erode identity, sense of belonging and lead to distress. Reg Environ Change (2021) 21: 46 research by Tran et al (2020), chronic, slowly unfolding degradation caused by coastal erosion as a source of solastalgia has been little studied. The role that concern and uncertainty about the future play in how solastalgia is experienced is under-examined (Galway et al 2019)

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