Continuity among stayers: Levels, predictors and meanings of place attachment in rural shrinking regions

In many countries, social and economic disparities between regions appear to be on the rise, with increasing demand for urban living mirrored by decline of more peripheral regions. Increasingly often, this concerns shrinking rural This paper focuses residents’ place attachment in two such regions: Sogn og Fjordane Norway Noord Friesland Netherlands. We study levels, predictors meanings drawing both quantitative survey data qualitative in-depth interviews. Our findings reveal generally high levels regions, likely reflecting stability among stayers. Women, employed, long-term residents those speaking local language report significantly higher material underscores that individual biographies are actively shaped social, cultural physical dimensions place. Respondents construct images a idyll where sense normalcy, familiarity natural quality is maintained. argue these help understand why stay put face regional decline.