Measuring neighborhood attachment and urban-related identity among residents of gated communities: A case study in Mavisehir

Abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the level of neighborhood attachment and urban-related identity among the residents of a gated community in a Turkish big city named Izmir. The field research was conducted in Mavişehir located in the Karşıyaka district of Izmir province. The sampling of the research consisted of 225 participants who were selected by the quota sampling method. The Place Attachment Scale of Lewicka (2010) and the Urban Identity Scale of Lalli (1992) were employed in order to measure participants' level of neighborhood attachment and the urban-related identity regarding Izmir. The results indicate that participants’ attachment to Mavişehir is high. Length of residence in the neighborhood, homeownership, and spatial satisfaction are the significant variables that affect the development of neighborhood attachment. On the other hand, the residents of Mavişehir still have a strong relationship with the city of Izmir. This relation is higher in terms of attachment, but lower in terms of familiarity and continuity