Predictive linkages between recreation specialization and place attachment

Abstract

The theory of recreation specialization indicates that as recreationists become more specialized into a recreation activity, they become more dependent on particular resources along a continuum of specialization. Previous empirical studies examining bivariate relationships have not provided a comprehensive understanding of the predictive linkages between recreation specialization and place attachment. This paper employed three sub-dimensions of recreation specialization to investigate the hypothesized connections to place attachment and examined the intermediate effects of experience preferences and consumptive orientation. Results provided empirical evidence that recreation specialization was associated with place attachment and other intervening variables also influenced the effects of recreation specialization on place attachment. Recreation specialization and the other accrued concepts when taken together provided substantial insights to predicting place attachment.