Going rural: Qualitative perspectives on the role of place attachment in young people's intentions to return to the country

Place identity and careers in regional Australia

“…Encouraging reconnections with their rural home, as an environmental support and resource, and as a strength (Bennett, 2008), may be one way to assist their progressive transition to urban life until they are settled (McIlveen et al, 2005). Whilst effectively managing career transitions outward from regional communities, consideration must also be given to research that highlights the phenomenon of inward, homeward bound youth who return from metropolitical centres (Riethmuller et al, 2021; Simões et al, 2020). For example, the career decision-making processes for students of agriculture and agribusiness (Esters, 2008; Turner & Hawkins, 2014) and itinerant farmworkers (Kossen et al, 2021) may be quite significantly influenced by place identity because of the diversity of occupations across the supply chain of agriculture, including work not necessarily based in rural communities (e.g., finance, commodity brokerage, logistics, manufacturing).…”

“…Given that career opportunities and sense of place for younger people in regional Australia is a particular issue (Eacott & Sonn, 2006), it is important to mention research that found adolescents in rural communities who felt a greater sense of place attachment, were more likely to express a desire to stay in their communities (Pretty et al, 2003). For example, young people who had migrated to urban areas to seek further skills or educational opportunities, often had future intentions to move back home, and sought a positive upbringing for their children after fondly remembering positive moments (Riethmuller et al, 2021; Simões et al, 2020).…”

“…Although the population flow is disproportionately outward away from rural communities (Rolfe et al, 2020), there is a counter-urban, rural-bound inward flow of people who must also be considered (Klocker et al, 2021). Despite the many representations of the lives of rural people depicted as experiencing hardship, challenge, despair and loss, the connections formed positively, even in childhood, can have a lasting impact on choosing where to live later in life (Riethmuller et al, 2021). Moreover, and with respect to the present research, population demographers argue that there is a need to focus on “the stayers” (Stockdale & Haartsen, 2018), who agentively decide to make their lives in rural communities (Dufhues et al, 2021; Stockdale & Haartsen, 2018).…”

“How we understand our place”: A Study of Japanese University student's Place Attachment and Desire to live to Rural Areas

“…[1] The exodus of young people from rural areas is not a new phenomena; rather, it is a global concern. [2][3] Since the 1960s, the population of rural Japan has been declining, IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1092/1/012022 2 and this trend is likely to continue in the future. [4] The aging of the population as a result of the flight of young people, the collapse of communities, the closure of schools, businesses, and other services, and the deterioration of local community infrastructure may all contribute to the local economy in Japan with falling populations.…”

“…The retention of young people in rural areas is a pressing concern. [2] The significance of local support workers in the development of Japan's rural towns has gotten a lot of attention in recent years. [5] These human resources, as Odagiri [6] points out, include not just individuals who have gotten involved in rural community development as a consequence of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' support human resources policy, but also members of non-governmental organizations and university students.…”