Place Attachment Styles Predict Adaptive and Maladaptive Conducts Under Flood Risk: Evidence via Cognitive and Affective Coping Mediation

Abstract

This contribution aims to investigate how place attachment styles, conceptualised starting from interpersonal attachment styles, contribute to the activation of Positive (i.e., support seeking) or Negative and Avoidant (e.g., behavioural disengagement, substance abuse, making fun of the situation) behavioural coping through cognitive (i.e., Depletion of Self-Control) and emotional (i.e., Distress, Solastalgia) coping variables. For each Place Attachment Style (i.e., Secure, Preoccupied and Fearful-Avoidant) a mediation model was hypothesised. To test the assumptions, a study was conducted in Romanian high-risk areas (N = 237). Results show how both Secure and Preoccupied Place Attachment Styles were associated with higher Positive Coping through Solastalgia, while this mediating role of Solastalgia lowered Negative Coping only for Preoccupied Place Attachment Style. On the contrary, Fearful-Avoidant Place Attachment Style negatively predicted Positive Coping through a higher Depletion of Self-Control. Avoidant Coping was not associated with any of the variables in the study. Findings highlight the importance of designing policies, risk communication strategies and pre- and post-disaster interventions considering individual differences in place attachment styles. People with a Fearful-Avoidant Place Attachment Style are more vulnerable and should be prioritised in the support received before and after a disaster.