Research on the Influence Mechanism of Heritage Value Perception and Place Identity on Heritage Responsibility Behavior—A Case Study of the Shaanxi Section of Baocheng Railway Industrial Heritage

The effectiveness of industrial heritage conservation relies on the collaborative efforts of multiple stakeholders. However, existing research lacks systematic exploration of stakeholders’ perception of heritage value and the pathways through which such perception translates into conservation behaviors. This study takes the Shaanxi section of the Baocheng Railway, a typical linear industrial heritage, as a case study. Based on the “Cognitive Appraisal Theory of Emotions” (CATE) theory, it examines the mechanism between heritage value perception, place identity, and heritage responsibility behavior. Through structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis of 414 questionnaire responses, the study finds that heritage value perception of the Baocheng Railway’s Shaanxi section not only significantly positively influences stakeholders’ place identity but also directly promotes the formation of heritage responsibility behavior. Among these, the perception of social value has the most pronounced impact on place identity and responsibility behavior. Furthermore, place identity plays a key mediating role between value perception and responsibility behavior. This study introduces the CATE theory into industrial heritage research, revealing the mechanism of behavior generation from the path of “cognition → emotion → behavior”. By focusing on linear industrial heritage sites, it broadens the scope of heritage research and highlights the central role of social value perception in driving conservation intentions and behaviors. The study further enriches research on heritage responsibility behavior, and the proposed theoretical model and findings can provide theoretical references for the management and conservation of industrial heritage.