The role of multiple sense of community as a mediator in the relationship between urban identity and citizen participation

In the urban context, place identity has been found to have an important role in increasing citizen participation. Although some studies have shown a positive relationship, some other studies have shown weak and contradictory relationship between individual attachment to the place and citizen participation. A mediator variable is needed so that the mechanism behind the relationship could be examined. This study examines the relationship between urban identity and citizen participation among 334 people living in Jakarta. Multiple Sense of Community (MSOC) which comprises of Sense of Community Territorial (SOC Territorial) and Sense of Community Relational (SOC Relational) were treated as mediators in the relationship between urban identity and citizen participation. This study used path analysis with a bootstrapping method in mediation analysis. The result indicates that urban identity has a direct positive relationship with citizen participation. The relationship is also partially mediated with the Relational SOC, but not the Territorial SOC. This study has shown the mechanism behind the relationship between urban identity and citizen participation and suggest the important role of relational SOC in the urban context.