A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Place Attachment and Pro-Environmental Behaviour

Place attachment has been identified as a key construct that can explain pro-environmental behaviour. However, the precise strength of its effect remains undocumented. The aim of this article is to quantify the effects of place attachment on pro-environmental behaviour by means of a meta-analysis and to examine the contextual factors that may explain the variations in the effect sizes reported in previous research. Our results show that, first, the overall effect of place attachment on pro-environmental behaviour is positive, and the strength of the effect is moderate. Second, the effect is larger in collectivist vs. individualist cultures. Third, the effect also depends on the type of place user and is larger for tourists vs. local residents. Fourth, the general measure of place attachment produces a larger effect size than measures focusing on one of its dimensions. Finally, place-specific measures of pro-environmental behaviour produce a larger effect size than non-place-specific ones