Work

Participation intention in cultural heritage conservation across generations: the influence of differential heritage value perception and place attachment

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Public participation is essential to preserving cultural heritage and achieving heritage sustainability. Although external drivers such as policy, economy, and technology have been widely studied, internal motivations – particularly generational differences in heritage value perception – remain underexplored. This study adopts the Value – Attitude–Behaviour (VAB) hierarchy to examine how differences in heritage value perception influence place attachment and participation intention. Using a structured non-probability survey, the study finds that Gen-Z shows the highest participation intention, while Gen-Y is the lowest, reflecting differences in value perception and attachment: Gen-Z prioritises aesthetic and scientific values; Gen-Y shows weaker social and cultural value perceptions; Gen-X shows stronger emotional ties. Social and cultural values are the strongest predictors of participation, with historic value having the greatest indirect effect. These findings support generation-responsive, locally grounded, and inclusive heritage strategies that enhance social cohesion and sustainable urban development.

Source: International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development

DOI: 10.1080/19463138.2025.2587386

Authors: Le Wang, Jestin Nordin, Haifei Liu

Institutions: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Shenyang City University

Language: English

Topic: Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation

Subfield: Archeology

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,270