Bedroom Personalization by Urban Adolescents in Botswana

Developing Place Attachment

Abstract

People in Botswana typically have a residence in the city for work, but home is traditionally their ancestral village. This qualitative study involved interviews of adolescent boys and girls living in Gaborone, Botswana about their bedroom environments. Through semi-structured, in-depth interviews, researchers collected qualitative data on the development of place attachment by adolescents through bedroom personalization. The outcomes indicate a clear interplay between bedroom personalization and place attachment. Youth achieved place attachment through personalization with childhood reminders, expressed identity, social interaction, and the opportunity to be creative. Youths’ place attachment and place dependence were primarily attributed to factors including privacy, bigger bedrooms, bedroom contents that provide enjoyment, and objects that support their interests and goals.