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Residential satisfaction among aging people living in place
Abstract
Residential satisfaction is a significant topic in environmental psychology yet there is little research on residential satisfaction among elders. This research aims to identify the cognitive structure of residential satisfaction of elderly persons living in their own dwellings and to identify demographic and psychological variables related to this residential satisfaction. One hundred and three participants, ranging in age from 72 to 86 years old and living at home in the central France, answered (a) a purpose-developed questionnaire to measure their residential satisfaction, (b) an environmental quality questionnaire aimed at evaluating both the physical and social environments, and (c) several psychological variables including: the ESV, a French adaptation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale which examines the general well-being of aging people; and three single well-being items assessing financial well-being, perceived health, and perception of oneself as active. The results indicated that in this sample, residential satisfaction corresponds to a four-dimension structure organized by physical location rather than psychological or behavioral aspects. The four components were the local area, access to services, relations with neighbors, and the home itself. Satisfaction with each component was related to different predictors, supporting the idea that elders hold complex and nuanced views of their homes and neighborhoods.
... In their study of Zaragoza, Spain, Belanche et al. [2] studied five components of the city's identity: cultural, historical, political, social and environmental, as suggested by Lalli [27]. Additional research has looked into place identity contents as they relate to residential satisfaction [28][29][30]. Most of these results reinforce the idea that different dimensions contribute differently to the relationships between people and places. ...
... Research has looked into various features influencing the social construction of places including social interaction [20,28,29,42,47], which deals with relationships established between the self and others; perceived homogeneity [28,43], which looks into the perceived characteristics of the group and the individuals associated with a certain place; the external image of a place or its prestige [20,30,43,48]; genealogical relations, traditions and relevant historical-cultural aspects [20,49]; lifestyle and use of public space [50]; and a sense of community [51][52][53]. Social aspects have been found particularly relevant to place identity and to residential satisfaction, and geographical features, in turn, have been shown to serve as a primary catalyst for social processes (e.g., [30,54]). ...
... Due to the importance of looking at the physical and/or geographical influence of residents' identification with places [55,56], we decided to separate the functional features of the physical space (functional dimension) from the environmental, or natural, ones such as nature, biodiversity and environmental quality (environmental dimension). The functional dimension comprises items such as infrastructure, accessibility and services [28,29,32,57] as well as the existence of public green spaces [28,30,58] and heritage. For instance, Stefaniak and colleagues [59] propose that discovering local history may result in a greater place attachment. ...
Research into place identity has mainly focused on its intensity rather than its contents. Place identity measurement is relatively mature, and the scales have been used in many literatures. However, the contents of place identity are rarely addressed, and if so, only in qualitative studies, constraining comparative studies. Thus, the purpose of the current paper was to develop a measure of place identity contents that elucidates the dimensions that contribute most to place identity in different urban contexts. The three studies described here developed and implemented a place identity contents scale. The scale was designed and validated amongst a sample of 422 residents in Study 1, with the identification of an eight-factor structure consistent with the literature review. Study 2 replicated the factor structure and confirmed correlations with place identity, place satisfaction and quality of life in the place. Study 3 explored the applicability of the PIC scale in a field study investigating three parishes that differed significantly in their physical and social features. Overall, the results suggest that place identity is a flexible and dynamic process and that, in order to form a bond with a place, people make use of those available features (both physical and social) that better contribute to a positive place identity. The results also suggest which place identity contents better favor identification and may, therefore, contribute to improving the quality of places and human well-being.
... However, most studies (e.g. Austin 2004;Rioux and Werner 2011;Riazi and Emami 2018) have utilized preliminary, exploratory interviews in order to create new indicators and modify old ones, solve methodological flaws, increase content validity and design their own RS questionnaires. Utilizing the emic approach of interviews, thematic categories analysis (content analysis) (e.g. ...
... Utilizing the emic approach of interviews, thematic categories analysis (content analysis) (e.g. Rioux and Werner 2011) and sometimes factor loadings (e.g. Wang and Wang 2016;Etminani-Ghasrodashti, Majedi, and Paydar 2017) have helped researchers in improving their questionnaires' items. ...
... For example, Hur and Morrow-Jones (2008) classified the DRS based on neighbourhood satisfaction, individuals' perceptions, and the length of residence while not addressing the house itself. Further, Rioux and Werner (2011) considered the physical environment, the social milieu, and the environment's functionality as the DRS. Furthermore, Buys and Miller (2012) categorized DRS into dwelling characteristics and neighbourhood, whereas they considered no residents' attributes. ...
The present study aims at reviewing Residential Satisfaction (RS) from both theoretical and empirical points of view. Various theories from different fields underpin RS and empirical studies on RS also indicate different determinants; however, there is a paucity of research on reviewing RS studies, identifying the roots of its theories and categorizing RS empirical studies into core determinants. Therefore, the main research questions are: which theories support RS and what are RS determinants and indicators? To answer these questions, valid RS-related studies were extracted using the search strategy and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 107 studies were selected for the final review. Besides, the findings of RS studies were structured into four determinants, namely urban policy and planning, design principles, social milieu and residents’ attributes. This review provides fresh insights into RS interdisciplinary aspects and the concept of residential dissatisfaction, and offers useful suggestions for future research.
... Previous studies have investigated the neighborhood features that contribute to well-being, such as the availability of public service institutions [54], transportation systems [28,55], security [56], retail stores [57], parking and garages [58], spaces for social interaction [59], and the accessibility of green areas [60,61]. Typically, the effectiveness of green and ecological spaces is particularly noteworthy in densely populated districts [62]. ...
... Residential satisfaction is a direct and practical concept for measuring dwellers' evaluations. It is influenced by both the social and physical aspects of neighborhoods and mirrors a subjective attitude towards an objective residential environment [46,61,77]. Therefore, residential satisfaction is a medium for assessing the residential experience relating to neighborhoods and everyday life. ...
Due to urban population growth, dense communities have emerged as a common approach to improve land utilization and minimize resource consumption to foster sustainable development in cities. In densely populated neighborhoods, the accessibility, availability, and appropriateness of amenities play a crucial role in the sustainable development of cities and residents’ quality of life. This study integrates the distribution of amenities within densely populated cities and utilizes residential assessments to analyze the effectiveness of these amenities in meeting the daily needs of residents. This analysis is based on a survey conducted in the three most populated cities in China. The study utilizes two sets of data: amenity distribution information and a questionnaire regarding the state of amenities and residents’ daily needs. The survey began in 2019 and was completed in 2021. A total of 1060 valid questionnaires were collected, with Shanghai accounting for 42%, and Beijing and Chongqing accounting for 30% and 28%, respectively. The findings demonstrate a higher density of amenities in populous areas, indicating a response to the overall requirements of residents. In these areas, the transportation network is extended more widely. Moreover, neighborhoods equipped with outdoor green spaces, ample parking, security services, and accessible public institutions received positive evaluations from residents, as they actively fulfilled their living needs. In neighborhood planning, prioritizing the coverage and quantity of these amenities can enhance the functionality and effectiveness of dense residential areas. This approach promotes sustainable development goals by improving the efficiency of urban resource allocation and establishing a convenient neighborhood environment.
... As a result, considering the elderly's wellbeing, the design and planning of a safe and secure residential setup within the built environment are critical. Physical location rather than psychological or behavioral factors have been found to influence residents' contentment with their homes, according to the research of Rioux and Werner (2011). The four pillars of the study were the surrounding area, utility connectivity, interpersonal interactions, and specific housing. ...
... The four pillars of the study were the surrounding area, utility connectivity, interpersonal interactions, and specific housing. According to the hypothesis that older people have complicated and subjective assessments of their homes and communities, each variable was related to numerous predictors (Rioux & Werner, 2011). Figure 3 summarizes the numerous facets of QOL that contribute to the satisfaction and well-being of the elderly. ...
The aspects of spatial planning have been aimed at supporting older people to stay healthy and active in their daily lives, as well as to improve their overall quality of life. Older people require accessible and functional venues and social environments that suit their emotional needs and goals. However, there has been limited study on the most significant characteristics of residential settings that impact the well-being of elderly inhabitants. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of neighborhood residential environment elements and various Quality of Life (QOL) attributes, as well as their interrelationships, to encourage healthy aging. A framework for analyzing neighborhood features was developed as part of this critical analysis through extensive analysis of chosen articles. According to the review, social life is the most influential component of QOL, followed by neighborhood living settings and housing layouts that promote mobility features to participate in physical activities, generating a feeling of community and belonging and leading to a healthy life. Further research should be conducted to investigate the influence of these characteristics on the overall satisfaction level of the elderly in later life.
... For older adults living in a single-family home, housing satisfaction may be lowered due to mobility barriers (Joan, 2013) and the burden and stress of home maintenance (Coleman et al., 2016). Additionally, living in an apartment provides older tenants with more opportunities to build social capital through interactions with neighbors, which improves wellbeing (Kylén et al., 2019) and is a key contributor to housing satisfaction (Rioux & Werner, 2011). Other factors contributing to housing satisfaction among older adults include neighborhood safety and quality, housing conditions and attributes, quality of maintenance services, relationships with housing staff, and access to health services (Cho et al., 2012;James, 2008;Perez et al., 2001;Reynolds & Beamish, 2003;Rioux & Werner, 2011;Sheppard, Gould, Auten et al., 2022). ...
... Additionally, living in an apartment provides older tenants with more opportunities to build social capital through interactions with neighbors, which improves wellbeing (Kylén et al., 2019) and is a key contributor to housing satisfaction (Rioux & Werner, 2011). Other factors contributing to housing satisfaction among older adults include neighborhood safety and quality, housing conditions and attributes, quality of maintenance services, relationships with housing staff, and access to health services (Cho et al., 2012;James, 2008;Perez et al., 2001;Reynolds & Beamish, 2003;Rioux & Werner, 2011;Sheppard, Gould, Auten et al., 2022). ...
Tenant experience surveys are a key tool for social housing landlords to gauge their success in providing high quality housing. This paper examines feedback from a tenant experience survey facilitated in a low-income housing seniors’ housing community to: (1) examine their perceptions of their housing across key domains related to tenant satisfaction; and (2) identify opportunities they felt would improve their housing experience. A total of 1,114 households completed the survey. Results showed that tenants generally had high satisfaction with property management, safety and security, communication with staff, access to services, community support, and tenancy management. However, open-ended comments from tenants highlighted specific situations that negatively impacted their housing, including maintenance issues, safety concerns, and limited access to health and social programs. Findings point to several suggestions for social housing providers to enhance their services to foster inclusive, supportive, and safe housing environments for low-income older adults.
... The relationship between residents and their living environment has been a significant topic in environmental psychology (Rioux and Werner, 2011), in educational studies (Schultz and McGinn, 2012) and in urban planning (Olsson and Berglund, 2009) but in the marketing and place branding arenas, research on residents' participation on a strategic level and its contribution to city management is limited (Zenker and Erfgen, 2014;Zenker and Seigis, 2012;Braun et al., 2013;Olsson and Berglund, 2009;Merrilees et al., 2009). Consequently, the topic merits further attention. ...
... Residents are invited to participate, either off-line or online, as they are regarded as important representatives of living a place (Rioux and Werner, 2011) and as active coproducers of goods, services and policies (Freire, 2009;Olsson and Berglund, 2009), not merely as passive beneficiaries or place customers. Participation and resident involvement are supposed to have the potential to strengthen public support. ...
Purpose
Listening to the customers has long been a key phrase and success element in product branding. This paper aims to highlight the importance of listening to residents during the branding of a place. The study explores ways of listening to residents to ensure they are heard and also discusses the challenges and benefits related to place branding flowing from having residents participate in decision-making processes.
Design/methodology/approach
Listening to residents and offering opportunities to participate requires place branders to fully attend to, comprehend and respond to residents’ comments, requests, ideas and feedback. This study reports on how two Nordic cities – Turku and Helsinki – listen to their residents. The data used comprise face-to-face interviews, telephone and e-mail conversations and documentary material.
Findings
Residents should not be considered as one homogeneous target; participation options and channels should be adapted to the demographics and geographic issues of the different regions and resident groups.
Research limitations/implications
The role of residents and the importance of listening are crucial features in the emerging concept of inclusive place branding (Kavaratzis et al. , 2017); its future conceptual development could benefit from the case examples at hand.
Practical implications
City authorities should listen to residents and provide them with opportunities to actively contribute to decision-making. Other cities could learn from the examples introduced in the paper.
Originality/value
This paper documents two Nordic examples of cities putting into practice a policy of listening to the residents, a previously neglected research area.
... A major challenge associated with the transition into a care home is the loss of the individual's home, therefore threatening identity, belonging and sense of self (Brownie et al., 2014;Lee et al., 2013;Westin, 2007). Home is not only fundamental to a person's self-identity and social relationships, but homely environments are essential to promote recovery, well-being and quality of life (Böckerman et al., 2012;Molony, 2010;Rioux & Werner, 2011). Additionally, individuals may lose previous social and communication networks (Zamanzadeh et al., 2017) putting them at risk of feeling lonely and isolated (Brownie et al., 2014). ...
... (d) Managing loss and grief 'It was important for me to say cheerio to the house' and (e)Caring relationships 'I didn't realise that I was lonely until I had company'.Together these five categories formed the basis of the core category 'The Primacy of 'Home' which encapsulates the experiences of the participants who placed significance on having a sense of belonging both within the care home and with their continued connections with 'family and home'. These findings concur with international research that has identified how the loss of an individual's home, can compromise identity, belonging, sense of self(Brownie et al., 2014;Lee et al., 2013;Österlind et al. 2017), well-being and quality of life(Böckerman et al., 2012;Molony, 2010;Rioux & Werner, 2011). ...
This grounded theory study sought to explore how older adults’ experience the transition from living at home to a care home with a specific focus on the latter part of the first year of the move. The study was carried out within a large Health Trust in the UK between August 2017 and May 2019. Purposive sampling was used in the initial stages of data collection. Thereafter and consistent with grounded theory methodology, theoretical sampling was employed to undertake semi‐structured interviews with 17 individuals from eight care homes between 5 and 12 months after the move. This paper reports five key categories which were: (a) The lasting effect of first Impressions ‘They helped me make my mind up’ (b) On a Journey ‘I just take it one day at a time’, (c) Staying connected and feeling ‘at home’ ‘You get something good out of it you know…you get hope’. (d) Managing loss and grief ‘It was important for me to say cheerio to the house’ and (e) Caring relationships ‘I didn't realise that I was lonely until I had company’. Together these five categories formed the basis of the core category ‘The Primacy of ‘Home’ which participants identified as a place they would like to feel valued, nurtured and have a sense of belonging. This study identifies that it is important for individual preferences and expectations to be managed from the outset of the move. Individuals and families need to be supported to have honest and caring conversations to promote acceptance and adaptation to living in a care home while continuing to embrace the heart of ‘home’. Key recommendations from this study include the need to raise awareness of the significance of the ongoing psychological and emotional well‐being needs of older people which should be considered in policy directives and clinical practice.
... However, measuring ageing in place remains challenging due to varied operationalisation in the literature [15][16][17]. Some studies rely on indicators such as relocation intentions or the presence of physical features (e.g., access to lifts and ramps) [18][19][20][21]. Recent scholars, however, noted a shift toward a more nuanced and subjective understanding of ageing in place, emphasising older adult's sense of attachment to their environment [15][16][17]. ...
Ageing in place is the ability to remain in one’s community, where living conditions foster a sense of attachment that enhances holistic well-being. To facilitate this, both the built and social environments within which the home is nested must be conducive to successful ageing. This paper deconstructs the merits of ageing in place, specifically how attachment to the lived environment contributes to holistic well-being. We analysed data from 6020 participants in the Singapore Life Panel® using path models, where we examined three dimensions of ageing in place: place identity, continuity, and social inclusion. Five path analyses show that two dimensions of ageing in place mediated the relationship between well-being and factors such as social isolation, number of close neighbours, social support, and satisfaction with amenities, but not living arrangements. Social inclusion consistently showed no significant relationship with well-being across all models. These findings suggest that the quality of social connections, rather than physical living arrangements, is important for well-being, and that social inclusion needs to be more appropriately contextualised. Our study contributes to policy discussions on how supporting older adults to age in place can enhance their overall well-being.
... Finally, regarding the social milieu, the more harmonious the neighborhood and the more connected to the community, the more effective it is in increasing RS (Addo, 2016;Bonaiuto & Fornara, 2017;Fornara et al., 2010;Grillo et al., 2010;Hesari et al., 2019;Huang & Du, 2015;Ibem & Amole, 2013;Li et al., 2019;Lim et al., 2017;Lotfi et al., 2019;Riazi & Emami, 2018;Rioux & Werner, 2011;Tao et al., 2014). Although some of these effects are due to social environment, which is influenced by residents' attributes, we excluded those related to residents' attributes and incorporated only those connected with the residential environment. ...
In recent years, the number of foreign residents in global cities has increased rapidly, and they have become an important demographic for housing development. On the other hand, research on the living environment of foreign residents has not been comprehensive as it should be. There has also been little consideration of how to create a living environment that takes into account the residential satisfaction of foreign residents. This study aimed to investigate the types of environments and support that can enhance residential satisfaction (RS) for foreign residents in Japan. Accordingly, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Toshima City, Tokyo, Japan. In this research, five factors that enhance RS were examined using structural equation modeling: “intercultural and language support” as the initial factor, two factors of public livelihood support (“childcare support” and “procedural support”), and two factors of residential environments (“social association” and “housing environment”). We further examined whether the RS differed depending on the length of residence. We found that intercultural communication support was effective in directly increasing the RS of foreign residents living in Japan and that the residential environment, including social association and housing environment, increased RS with intercultural and language support as a starting point. However, childcare and procedural support were not statistically significant. These factors and the empirical model differ depending on the number of years of settlement in Japan. Additionally, the residential environment, including social association and housing environment, indirectly increased RS with intercultural communication support as the starting point in the case of residents who lived for over 5 years there. However, only social association contributed to increased RS among residents who lived there for less than 5 years. Finally, we derived policy recommendations based on the findings of short-term stay and medium- to long-term settlement.
... Owing to its broad nature, the concept of residential satisfaction has given rise to several theories, with the three most prevalent ones being the "housing needs theory" [37], the "housing deficit theory" [38], and the "psychological construct theory" [34], respectively. Subsequently, a great deal of studies about residential satisfaction have been conducted, which can be classified into four categories: residential satisfaction of specific demographic groups, such as black adults [39], migrants [11,40], and the elderly [41,42], residential satisfaction of individuals at specific stages of life, such as housewives [1] and individuals at different stages of the life cycle [43], residential satisfaction concerning specific housing preferences [44], and residential satisfaction regarding a particular building performance or specific neighborhood, such as council housing [45], redeveloped neighborhoods [12,46], and affordable housing [2,47,48]. ...
Residential satisfaction has been heavily discussed worldwide amid the increasing emphasis on the social dimension of sustainability. However, consensus has not been reached regarding its determinants, and little research has focused on the subsidized housing estates (SHEs) in post-reform China. Using data collected from field observations in Guangzhou, this study developed a conceptual framework on the basis of the ACSI and Campbell’s models and employed structural equation modeling to investigate what and how factors pertaining to both the built and social environments influenced residential satisfaction of SHEs. Generally, SHE residents were moderately satisfied with their housing estates, although challenges persisted in estate management and security, suggesting that the performance of China’s subsidized housing policies were acceptable. Echoing existing arguments, this empirical investigation revealed the substantial positive roles played by both the built and social environments in shaping residential satisfaction. Specifically, the livable built environment characterized by large housing size and well-equipped neighborhoods, coupled with the friendly social environment marked by intimate neighborly relationships and diverse community activities, correlated with an elevated level of residential satisfaction of SHEs. Importantly, residents’ subjective perceptions of the built environment emerged as the most influential factor, which acted a significant mediating role, linking both objective attributes and individual expectations to residential satisfaction. This underscored the necessity of integrating public opinions into the planning process to meet SHE residents’ actual desires. These findings not only extended the scholarly discourse on residential satisfaction, especially among disadvantaged groups in low-income housing estates, but also advanced urban sustainable development by providing references for enhancing SHE performance.
... This is not surprising, as people with higher educational levels usually have higher social and economic status and higher income levels, making them more likely to obtain better housing conditions and thus improving their residential satisfaction. this conclusion is similar to Rioux's research 1,10 . In addition to gender, marital status, and education, the length of commuting time (X9) also affects residential satisfaction, with longer commuting times leading to lower satisfaction. ...
This paper investigates the residential satisfaction levels of tenants living in rental housing converted from non-residential stock buildings in Beijing. A stratified random sampling method was used to select 353 tenants from five apartments based on the plan form and location of the units for a structured questionnaire survey. The results of a hierarchical regression analysis indicated that subjective attributes were more influential in determining residential satisfaction than the objective physical and demographic attributes of the apartments. Within the five dimensions of subjective attributes, the "interior space" dimension had the greatest impact on predicting residential satisfaction. In addition, a one-way ANOVA analysis showed that the floor plan of the apartments also played a significant role in determining residential satisfaction, S-type and office park-type (Converted from an office park) layouts received the highest satisfaction ratings. This research provides valuable insights for revitalizing non-residential stock buildings and offers theoretical support for converting more non-residential stock buildings into rental housing in the future.
... The group discussions reveal that the respondents, specially, those belonging to higher educational backgrounds, desired to participate in social work through some Non-Profit Organization or Non-Government Organizations (NGO), to serve the underprivileged. Occasional trips with neighbors, as also observed in a study by Rioux and Werner (2011) was also noted in this study. Few of the respondents from organically developed neighborhoods, especially from lower income and economically weaker background liked to spend time by playing cards and carom with their neighbors in tea stalls or informal spaces in the road and hence, wished to have an organized space in the neighborhood where could participate in such activities. ...
Population ageing combined with the disintegration of the traditional family structure is leading to increased vulnerability of the older adults, especially in the Southeast Asian countries like India. With decline in physical abilities, the older adults limit their daily activities to the peripheries of their familiar residential environment. Though the Indian older adults vary significantly in their perspective to life and ageing from their western counterparts, explorations of neighborhood parameters required for the well-being of the older adults have been limited in the Indian context. Though recent studies on Indian older adults reveal the emergence of groups of older adults with belief in independence and active ageing, a majority of the older adults in India still hold on to traditional beliefs systems like intergenerational inter-dependence, and disengagement in old age. Since the aim of the present study is to understand the link between neighborhood features and the overall QoL from a holistic approach, the study adopts the qualitative research technique which allows the freedom to explore the concept from varied perspectives. The study collects data through discussions with 83 older adults divided in in nine groups residing in nine different neighborhoods in Kolkata, India. The technique of content analysis was then conducted on the findings from focus group discussions to identify a holistic list of activities and their associated neighborhood infrastructure and attributes, perceived to contribute to the QoL domains of Indian older adults. The findings of this study can be useful to policy makers in formulating design guidelines for the built environment in order to cater to the overall QoL of the older adults.
... The neighbourhood environment often refers to facilities for daily public use and service (Lee, et al., 2013). Public facilities such as markets, schools, clinics, good quality of public transport, and green areas are important to support the daily life of the dwellers and enhance residents' quality of life (Ambrey & Fleming, 2014;Nurizan & Hashim, 2001;Rioux & Werner, 2011;Wilson, et al., 1995). For private renters, landlord services can also influence their residential satisfaction levels (James, 2007;Paris & Kangari, 2005). ...
The recent revival of the private rented sector in many regions highlights the importance of understanding the well-being of private renters. While there is a consensus that private renters are less satisfied with their life than homeowners, little attention has been given to examining the life satisfaction of private renters from different sub-sectors, nor has the underlying mechanism linking residential environment and life satisfaction been thoroughly investigated. The present paper aims to address these gaps by examining the life satisfaction of private renters from different sub-sectors in Shenzhen, China. We propose a model, based on Amérigo and Aragones’ (1997) theoretical framework, that links residential environment, social exclusion, and life satisfaction. The model fits well with the data collected from 619 renters. The results showed that only 38% of the respondent private renters were satisfied with their life. Furthermore, we found urban village renters were significantly less satisfied with their life compared with renters living in commercial housing and Long-term Rented Apartments. Path analysis results suggest that some objective aspects of the residential environment, renters’ perceived social exclusion, and their residential satisfaction could explain a substantial proportion of the variances in life satisfaction while the influence of demographic variables was found to be insignificant. Perceived equal citizenship rights, perceived discrimination, and perceived reasonable rent were shown to have significant effects on life satisfaction. The paper concludes with a discussion on policy implications aimed at enhancing the life satisfaction of private renters.
... A major challenge associated with the transition into a care home is the loss of the individual's home, therefore threatening identity, belonging, and sense of self (Lee et al., 2013;Brownie et al., 2014;Fitzpatrick and Tzouvara, 2019;Paddock et al., 2019). Home is not only fundamental to a person's self-identity and social relationships, but homely environments are essential to promote recovery, well-being, and quality of life (Molony, 2010;Rioux and Werner, 2011). Additionally, individuals may lose previous social and communication networks (Zamanzadeh et al., 2017) putting them at risk of feeling lonely and isolated (Brownie et al., 2014). ...
... This kind of connection, which was extremely strong in the past even among neighbors, is now considerably weakened by modern housing. Some studies suggest that neighborhood-level social connections heighten residential satisfaction (e.g., Adriaanse, 2007;Huang & Du, 2015;Li et al., 2019;Lotfi et al., 2019;Rioux & Werner, 2011). However, the present study revealed that indoor connections are more critical in the study area: more interaction with family, friends, and relatives is valuable in choosing a home. ...
Despite the sizable literature on residential preferences in recent years, underlying motivational factors have been lacking attention, especially at the value level. Further, traditional questionnaire-based methods fail to explicate stated preferences as the subjective aspect of residential satisfaction; thus, filling these gaps calls for novel research methods. Applying the Means-End Chain theory (MEC), Hierarchical Value Map (HVM) and laddering technique, the current study aimed to grasp how residents prefer various housing attributes to achieve functional and psycho-social consequences and how these consequences are associated with their values. The obtained HVMs identified six key MECs in two levels of the house and neighborhood from the interviews conducted with 60 residents in Gonbad Kavoos, Iran. The findings demonstrated that the respondents attached much significance to the attributes of dwelling size, number of bedrooms, green yard, single-family house, neighborhood management and neighborhood reputation to achieve the values of benevolence, hedonism, achievement, power and security in six key MECs. Plus, the results indicated how social-economic groups differ in choosing the MECs. The article’s findings contribute to understanding the intrinsic motivation of residential preferences and housing choices by addressing the residents’ cognitive structures and meanings. The paper’s empirical findings and some discussions on residential environments can be beneficial for housing designers as well as policymakers. Moreover, the paper discusses the theoretical expansion of residential satisfaction by addressing cultural values.
Graphical abstract
... The effect of proximity on elderly resident satisfaction has been presented in past research. For instance, Rioux and Werner (2011) found that ageing people are satisfied with a living space that is close to local services for short pleasure trips. In addition, Peng and Chiang (2015) found that properties that are close to hospitals/health care, should not be too close to unpleasant areas, exposed to noise, crowds and traffic, tend to increase satisfaction. ...
Purpose
This study aims to examine the influence of condominium attributes on resident satisfaction and word of mouth from the perspectives of the elderly in Thailand.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from 338 elderly residents through a questionnaire survey and analysed by using descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling procedures.
Findings
The results showed that the strongest predictor of resident satisfaction was design functionality, followed by social environment, safety and security and service quality. In addition, the strongest predictor of word of mouth was safety and security, followed by design functionality, proximity, service quality and social environment.
Research limitations/implications
The data were drawn at the level of the overall characteristics of elderly residents. People may be different in terms of their demographic characters such as gender, age, and user experience.
Practical implications
The study suggests that condominium developers and designers should pay attention to design functionality both physically and mentally such as suitable materials, lighting and common areas. Moreover, the developers should focus on the proximity of the nearest hospitals, safety and security measures, well-trained security personnel and social activity arrangement.
Originality/value
Elderly condominium markets are increasingly growing as a result of the ageing society in Thailand. However, very few empirical studies investigate condominium attributes that affect resident satisfaction and word of mouth provided by real estate developers. The paper aims to determine driving factors that enhance the better well-being of elderly residents.
... RS has close links with well-being, promoting happiness, autonomy, and life satisfaction (Am erigo and Aragon es 1997; Mouratidis 2020; Mulliner, Riley, and Maliene 2020). RS allows people to view themselves as effective individuals and triggers active behaviors in the neighborhood, leading to a sense of autonomy, selfesteem, and social coherence (Rioux and Werner 2011;Bai, Lai, and Liu 2020;Lee et al. 2021). ...
Acquiring sociospatial experiences at nested geographical scales is a lifelong meaning construction process, and this has great implications for aging in place. Various experiences trigger older people’s attitudinal and sentimental reflections regarding how they evaluate and attach themselves to where they live; this invokes residential satisfaction, and subsequently, place attachment. Through a questionnaire survey of 501 community-dwelling individuals aged sixty-five and older in Hong Kong, an ultra-high-density Asian city, this article examines the relationship between sociospatial experiences and well-being through a sequential path analysis model. It identifies five dimensions of sociospatial experiences: “homes and housing estate,” “social environment,” “living convenience,” “pedestrian experience,” and “blue and green” features. All dimensions predict emotional, social, and psychological well-being via residential satisfaction and then place attachment. Place attachment is a more robust mechanism than residential satisfaction in the environment–well-being association. Developing a satisfying relationship, and subsequently, functional and emotional links with the place of residence, is conducive to achieving well-being. This uncovers an important mechanism of person–environment interactions for aging in place.
... Studies of older peoples' satisfaction with their living environment have developed from demographic, neighborhood, and social perspectives (Bruin and Cook, 1997;Phillips et al., 2005;Rioux, 2007). Living space is often the central focus of the aging population-especially people with physical and financial limitations-and thus, understanding how living space predicts psychological satisfaction is important (Rioux and Werner, 2011). Current studies are carried out at the level of state and ethnic groups, and travel space mainly focuses on how accessibility contributes to wellbeing. ...
The psychological satisfaction of older adults is an important evaluation standard for the construction of elder-friendly cities. Meanwhile, as important space carriers carrying the travel activities and social participation of older adults, streets are also of great significance to improve psychological wellbeing. However, few studies pay attention to the street usage of aging population, especially in the context of megacities. Moreover, the previous literature rarely distinguishes the types of streets. Thus, employing a mixed approach, we investigate the relationships between street usage and psychological satisfaction for older adults. Based on the survey in Shanghai, we find that a clear role for different usage indicators in the determination of subjective psychological satisfaction of older adults. More specially, the street usage and psychological satisfaction for older adults are strongly correlated, especially for living streets. Psychological satisfaction for older adults in different types of streets is not always positively related to the positive perception of street usage. The psychological satisfaction of different streets depends on different factors. By focusing on the case of a megacity, our study emphasizes the differences between different types of streets, which will be conducive to the proposal of practical planning policies. In addition, employing mixed research methods not only explains how different street usage affects the psychological welfare of older adults on a macro scale, but also emphasizes the inner world of respondents.
... Housing satisfaction is a complicated relationship between the physical, psychological, social, demographic, and economic attributes of the housing and the residents [3] [59]. Francescato et al. [28] formulate housing satisfaction as the individual's accumulated emotional response towards the inhabited house, while several authors define it as the residents' evaluation of the experienced housing condition [13] [47]. ...
This study aims to understand the determining factors of housing satisfaction of the Indonesian adolescent, who are potential homebuyers. It investigates the factors of housing satisfaction in multi-stages, such as the socio-demographic attributes and housing attributes. It assists in unveiling the distinctive and prominent housing attributes of the residents according to their determining socio-demographic attributes for housing satisfaction in a quantitative method. From the collected 534 respondents, age and monthly income are the pivotal socio-demographic factors of housing satisfaction. Location and neighborhood are the housing norms with constant factorial attribute to housing satisfaction across the age and monthly income groups. While space and expenditure vary in both groups. These findings also provide a general understanding of the important physical and social features of each housing norm to meet the housing satisfaction of the residents. It is useful for the city authority, planners, and architects as a reference to formulate an aptly regulation, program, planning, and design of housing provision for a certain social group.
... However, the kitchen as a functional space, the existing standardized kitchen space layout, and backward forms of interaction in some households currently do not fully meet the characteristics of this group, adding to their physical activity burden [23]. Therefore, for most older adults to operate more comfortably, safely, and healthily in the home kitchen, it is necessary to analyze the layout of the kitchen space in conjunction with the behavior of aging users to provide support for aging in place [24]. ...
As a result of aging populations globally, a growing number of older adults prefer to age in place; therefore, it is essential to study the spatial adaptability of the house. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the efficiency of daily activities and the spatial layout of home kitchens in the elderly population, and to assess the moderating role of cognitive function. Twenty-one elderly participants completed the experiment, including non-cognitively impaired (n = 12) and cognitively impaired groups (n = 9). Their home kitchen space was partitioned in plan and elevation based on space syntax theory. They were required to complete three tasks (i.e., an easy task, a medium task, and a difficult task) in their respective kitchens. The relationship between the efficiency of different tasks’ completion and the corresponding kitchen space attributes (integration, mean depth) was examined. The results showed a significant association between the home kitchen space layout of homebound older adults and their kitchen activity efficiency. In addition, a positive moderating effect of cognitive ability was found in the association between moderate and difficult tasks (p < 0.05), and its effect appeared to be stronger under challenging tasks (p < 0.01). The results of this study may help provide a basis for future design and optimization of aging-friendly residential spaces.
... Based on these previous studies, we distinguish in this article between older people's perceptions of spatial, social, and functional aspects of the living environment that can affect the overall level of residential satisfaction. People's level of residential satisfaction can, for a large part, be predicted by housing conditions, public facilities and neighbourhood characteristics [38,39]. From this perspective, residential satisfaction can be considered an important indicator of experienced liveability, as it reflects a subjective evaluation of the socio-spatial environment in which people reside [2]. ...
This article aims to contribute to the existing literature about liveability in rural areas by explicitly focusing on the level of residential satisfaction of older adults (55+) in four small Dutch villages. We strive not only to identify the key indicators of residential satisfaction among older villagers but also to better understand how these indicators affect their (daily) life. Moreover, in line with the person–environment fit tradition, we differentiate according to the capabilities and vulnerabilities of older villagers. To this end, we use a mixed-method approach, in which we combine survey data with qualitative data collected with photovoice in the four villages. The findings indicate that older adults’ perceptions of spatial, social and functional aspects of the living environment are related to the degree of residential satisfaction overall. However, these perceptions appear to be strongly intertwined, especially perceptions about spatial characteristics, local identity and connectedness. Older adults who are hindered by health problems in undertaking daily activities experience a lower level of person–environment fit, which is reflected in a lower level of residential satisfaction. However, this relationship between subjective health and residential satisfaction can only be partially explained by different perceptions of the spatial, social and functional environment.
... The characteristics of the dwelling play an important role in the life satisfaction of the elderly because the appropriate housing conditions can improve the comfort, safety, and health of the elderly. Quality of life is influenced by satisfaction with housing, and there may be a reduction in quality of life if older adults are dissatisfied with their housing (Rioux & Werner, 2011). Satisfaction with housing is often related to the decision to move, and those who are dissatisfied with their current housing are more likely to consider moving. ...
Although there are numerous works on how well-being in old age can be influenced by the built environment, little research has been conducted in Malaysia. In this study, we hypothesized that the characteristics of the residential environment would have a positive impact on the life satisfaction of older adults in Malaysia. Third places are recognized as an important factor in improving the quality of life of older adults, enabling them to age in place. However, there is still much to be explored on the types of third places in the neighborhood that are critical in promoting the well-being of older adults. To address this gap, this study also examined which third places older adults in Malaysia commonly frequent and which types of third places are associated with life satisfaction. A convergent parallel mixed-method approach was used, which included a survey with a sample of 250 older adults aged 60 years and older living in Bandar Sunway in the state of Selangor in Malaysia, and an in-depth interview with respondents. The findings highlight the role of residential environment characteristics and third places ─ particularly shopping, culture, and education-related places—on the life satisfaction of older people in Malaysia. By demonstrating the environmental determinants of older people's well-being in Malaysia, this study provides urban planners and housing associations with information for creating age-friendly communities.
... Overall, many studies have sought to understand residential satisfaction and housing mobility in developed and developing countries, employing a range of analytical and methodological approaches to the residential satisfaction concept. The residential satisfaction of elderly people (Rioux & Werner, 2011;Rojo-Perez et al., 2001) and, less commonly, students (Amole, 2009) has been studied. Notably, studies have examined residential satisfaction amongst residents of specific housing types, such as lower-cost public and social housing (e.g. ...
This study investigates the residential satisfaction and future relocation intention of the host communities neighbouring Rohingya migrants in Bangladesh. An empirical study of 151 households was conducted in Ukhiya and Ramu Upazila of Cox’s Bazar district in late 2019. The residential satisfaction component includes the social environment (SE), neighbourhood environment (NE), and public services and facilities (PS&F). It shows that, due to the Rohingya influx, the residential satisfaction level of the Ukhiya host communities declined by 30.17%. Besides, to determine factors that impact on the intention to migrate, the ordinal logistic regression model has been run. A larger distance between the household and the Rohingya camps, longer duration of residence in the community, and a higher number of children in the family negatively influence the mobility intention of the host communities. Furthermore, the Hindu residents in the host communities have higher propensity to relocate. These findings demand that policies and programmes should be planned in a way that enables the host communities to stay in place despite the Rohingya influx.
... Водночас застосування просторового критерію диференціації економічних, соціальних, екологічних та культурно-духовних проблем збалансованого розвитку міст, де ці проблеми структуруються за географічним масштабом (глобальні, національні, локальні) і локаціями респондентів, в Україні належним чином не вивчено. Небагато таких комплексних досліджень і в роботах зарубіжних дослідників [10][11][12][13][14]. Останні, аналізуючи перцептивні та поведінкові особливості мешканців міст, фокусуються переважно на окремих містах, так званих case-studies -окремих аспектах забезпечення збалансованого міського розвитку, обраних соціальних групах тощо. ...
The problem of inclusive development has recently taken into account in Ukraine, although at the global level and in the EU such discussions have been going on for a long time, as well as key concepts were included in the documents shaping the international policy agenda. The paper aims to identify local markers of inclusion and/or exclusion within the capital post-socialist city, verify participatory approaches within the context of sustainable urban development research, and create a basis for developing recommendations for further improvement of urban policy in Ukraine. The example of the capital, Kyiv, a city that has been integrated into the global economic landscape for several decades, is the most indicative from the point of view of current and anticipated changes. The article outlines the main features of modern discourse in the field of inclusiveness and integrated urban development. On the case of Kyiv and a few urban neighborhoods, based on a survey and expert assessment, local features of the spatial measurement of inclusiveness, such as accessibility and openness of different types of infrastructural objects, organization of urban space, have been analyzed. The surveys, in addition to positive assessments of the availability of urban infrastructure for residents, and high quality of construction of individual facilities, simultaneously have been revealed significant shortcomings, especially for people with disabilities. The role of urban governance and international projects outcomes to achieve new goals of urban environment quality in Ukraine has been emphasized. The scientific novelty of the article is to identify local signs of inclusiveness and exclusivity in the capital city of a post-socialist country in the context of improving urban policy in Ukraine.
... The trend in the research on elderly housing has shifted towards looking at changes or lack of changes in housing location [5]; housing preference [6]; and housing satisfaction [7] related to housing adaptation, housing improvements [8], AIP intention [9,10], AIP and wellbeing [11], walkable neighborhoods for AIP [12], perceived neighborhood environments, and the overall quality of life [13]. Additionally, research has also focused on the AIP of residents in an NORC, walkability and falls prevention [14], and NORC service programs and AIP intention [15]. ...
This study reveals residents’ willingness to live in their current homes and communities and analyzes the factors related to their willingness to age in place in South Korea. Using a questionnaire survey method, data of 289 residents aged 55 or older were collected in apartment areas with the potential to become naturally occurring senior communities in Seoul. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation tests, t-test, ANOVA, factor analysis, and regression analysis by SPSS 26.0, and the findings were followed up. Housing services are very important in aging communities. Physical environment-oriented residential services promote a safe walking environment, facilities to support the elderly, a secure complex environment, a home-safety accident-prevention diagnosis service, home improvement, and home improvement support. Multiple regression analysis showed that residential services or elderly education and activity support services influence aging in place, which is a novel finding revealed in this study.
... In most cities, people without a local hukou are not allowed to buy housing in this city. the presence of shops, markets, schools, clinic, good quality of public transport, green areas, playground, and others are important to support the daily life of the dwellers and enhance residents' quality of life (Nurizan & Hashim, 2001;Rioux & Werner, 2011;Wilson et al., 1995). Therefore, it is reasonable to assume public facilities can increase residents' residential satisfaction levels, which has been confirmed by some previous studies . ...
In recent years, Chinese housing policies have been shifting from encouraging homeownership toward developing the private rented sector, especially in the superstar cities. Nevertheless, what are the target groups and characteristics of private rental housing in Chinese superstar cities, and whether the private rental housing is capable of meeting private tenants' housing needs remain unclear. This paper attempts to bridge this gap from the tenant perspective by examining the determinants of private tenants' residential satisfaction. We argue that residential satisfaction should be examined within different submarkets. By adopting the Structure of Housing Provision thesis, we identified three main sub-sectors in China's superstar cities, i.e. urban village housing, commercial rented housing, and Long-term Rented Apartment (LTRA). Based on a questionnaire survey in Shenzhen, we examined the characteristics of the three subsectors and tenants living in each sub-sector. Furthermore, we evaluated whether the residential satisfaction levels varied significantly in different sub-sectors and the determinants of residential satisfaction in each sub-sector. The results of an ANOVA showed that tenants living in commercial rented housing and LTRAs were more satisfied than those living in urban village housing. The regression results showed that the determinants of residential satisfaction vary considerably among different sub-sectors. The results of this paper can be useful not only for the landlords to improve tenants' residential satisfaction but also for policy-makers engaged in private rental market development and urban renewal.
... Processes of belonging refer to "subjective evaluations and interpretations of place" (Chaudhury & Oswald, 2019) based on the relationship between a person and an environment, such as residential satisfaction, place attachment, and meaning of home. For instance, a person who lives in a neighborhood with more community facilities and services available may have higher neighborhood satisfaction and perceive that the neighborhood is age-friendly (Fernández-Carro et al., 2015;Mouratidis, 2020;Novek & Menec, 2014;Rioux & Werner, 2011). On the other hand, negative experiences (e.g., maintenance issues) and the presence of undesirable features (e.g., garbage, insects, abandoned buildings, dark streets, and sidewalks) in one's home or geographic location may lower residential satisfaction and perception of age-friendliness of the community (Byrnes et al., 2006;Chui et al., 2019;Fernández-Carro et al., 2015;Hillcoat-Nallétamby & Ogg, 2014;James III, 2008;Kahana et al., 2003;Mouratidis, 2020). ...
Background and Objectives
Promoting age-friendliness of communities and supporting aging in place (AIP) are of great importance. Based on processes of belonging and agency, which suggest that person-environment interactions influence residents’ evaluations and behaviors related to the environment, this study aims to examine the interrelationship between the availability of age-friendly features, perceived age-friendliness of community, and intention toward AIP.
Research Design and Methods
This study used the 2015 AARP Age-Friendly Community Survey, which includes 66 home and neighborhood features under the eight domains specified by the WHO’s Age-Friendly Cities Guidelines. A series of regression and mediational analyses were conducted to test hypotheses.
Results
Overall, a greater availability of age-friendly features was positively associated with perceived age-friendliness of community and AIP intention. The relationship between age-friendly features and AIP intention was mediated by perceived age-friendliness of community (50.3% to 96% of the total effects). When perceived age-friendliness of community was introduced to models, the direct effects of housing, outdoor spaces and buildings, and transportation domains remained significant.
Discussion and Implications
Findings suggest that a greater availability of age-friendly features influences older adults’ perception on their community, leading to the development of a desire to age-in-place, supporting processes of belonging and agency. Domains of housing, outdoor spaces and buildings, and transportation may be the most important features in promoting age-friendliness of community and the key determinants of aging in place. Policy makers and practitioners may need to prioritize promoting age-friendly built environment before social environment in building age-friendly communities.
... They also complained of rude behavior from caretaking staff and inadequate staff in old age home [23]. Factors that can promote satisfaction with the living environment in France and the Netherlands were the availability of basic living facilities located on the floor of residence, enough opportunities for social contact, and feeling of safety at home and the neighborhood [48,49]. In this study, older people who perceived themselves to have an unhealthy lifestyle were more likely to be frail in both settings. ...
Introduction
Frailty is a state of being vulnerable to adverse health outcomes such as falls, delirium, and disability in older people. Identifying frailty is important in a low-income setting to prevent it from progressing, reducing healthcare costs, increasing the chances of reversibility, and implementing effective interventions. The factors affecting frailty in older people living in old age homes could differ from those living in the community. This study was conducted to identify the factors associated with frailty in older people residing in old age homes and communities in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study conducted from April to June 2019 in three districts of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Data were collected from 193 older people residing in old age homes and 501 residing in communities aged 60 and above using convenience sampling. Frailty was measured using the Groningen Frailty Indicator. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between independent variables and frailty.
Results
Frailty was more prevalent among older people in old age homes (71.5%) compared to those in the community (56.3%). Older people who were satisfied with their living environment had lower frailty scores in both old age homes (β = -0.20, p<0.01) and the community (β = -0.15, p<0.001). Those who had self-rated unhealthy lifestyle had higher frailty scores in both old age homes (β = 0.45, p<0.001) and the community (β = 0.25, p<0.001). In the community, those over 80 years of age had higher frailty scores (β = 0.15, p<0.01) and those with higher education had lower scores (β = -0.13, p<0.05).
Conclusion
The living environment and lifestyle are key modifiable risk factors of frailty, both in old age homes and the community. The findings suggest a need for lifestyle modification and reforms in building standards, especially in old age homes, to promote age-friendly communities.
... They also complained of rude behavior from caretaking staff and inadequate staff in old age home [23]. Factors that can promote satisfaction with the living environment in France and the Netherlands were the availability of basic living facilities located on the floor of residence, enough opportunities for social contact, and feeling of safety at home and the neighborhood [48,49]. In this study, older people who perceived themselves to have an unhealthy lifestyle were more likely to be frail in both settings. ...
Introduction
Frailty is a state of being vulnerable to adverse health outcomes such as falls, delirium, and disability in older people. Identifying frailty is important in a low-income setting to prevent it from progressing, reducing healthcare costs, increasing the chances of reversibility, and implementing effective interventions. The factors affecting frailty in older people living in old age homes could differ from those living in the community. This study was conducted to identify the factors associated with frailty in older people residing in old age homes and communities in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study conducted from April to June 2019 in three districts of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Data were collected from 193 older people residing in old age homes and 501 residing in communities aged 60 and above using convenience sampling. Frailty was measured using the Groningen Frailty Indicator. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between independent variables and frailty.
Results
Frailty was more prevalent among older people in old age homes (71.5%) compared to those in the community (56.3%). Older people who were satisfied with their living environment had lower frailty scores in both old age homes (β = -0.20, p<0.01) and the community (β = -0.15, p<0.001). Those who had self-rated unhealthy lifestyle had higher frailty scores in both old age homes (β = 0.45, p<0.001) and the community (β = 0.25, p<0.001). In the community, those over 80 years of age had higher frailty scores (β = 0.15, p<0.01) and those with higher education had lower scores (β = -0.13, p<0.05).
Conclusion
The living environment and lifestyle are key modifiable risk factors of frailty, both in old age homes and the community. The findings suggest a need for lifestyle modification and reforms in building standards, especially in old age homes, to promote age-friendly communities.
... Natural scenery [23,32] Public open spaces Street lighting [23,43,51,76] Area open spaces ratio [77] Recreation Public open spaces [78] Quietness cleanness [3,34,44,64,73] maintenance [44,53] Pollution [50] Landscaping quality [3,34,43,44,51,53] Housing Universal design [37,57,79,80] Residential density [32,[37][38][39]81] Residential Care Facility [59] Type of housing [82][83][84] Socio-economic environment Social Environment Life expectancy [35] Quality life [26,42,52,59,61,81,85] Social interaction/ community activities [22,44,46,86,87] Happiness [88] Social inclusion [32,35,43,46,49,71,89] Social Inequalities [58] Social Demography [20,90] Social democracy [32,91] Participation [21,22,30,33,54,67,71,74,[92][93][94][95] Social Support [31,41,44,49] Education learning [31] Social capital [49] Cultural Environment Religious activity [33,43,51,67,73,75] Cultural events ...
Background
An essential element in the process of “aging well” is the concept of Active Aging (AA). To propose an operational definition of Active Aging, the present study seeks to develop a new measurement tool through an ecological approach. The aim is to recognize significant indicators that play a role in assessing AA in urban areas.
Methods
This study was conducted through a two-phase process of consensus-building: 1) identifying a set of indicators that were likely candidates for inclusion based on literature review, and 2) a two-round modified Delphi survey using an international panel of academic experts in environmental sciences and gerontology to achieve consensus on the importance of the extracted indicators and validate the items. The panelists were asked to complete a researcher-developed questionnaire with an 11-point Likert scale based on the indicators derived in phase 1. Finally, the Delphi survey’s valid indicators and criteria were utilized to develop the measurement tool.
Results
At the outset, a list of 111 indicators of AA was prepared through the desk study. A panel of 22 experts reviewed the extracted items and arrived at a consensus on 99 items in the first round and finalised in the second round. Thematic analysis of the panelists’ open-ended responses revealed new concepts that would be explicitly considered by the consensus group. This developed measurement scale consists of five domains, i.e., individual, spatial, socio-economic, governance, and health-related, which contain 15 criteria and 99 indicators.
Conclusions
The present researchers have developed the active aging measure for urban settlements (AAMU), which can be used both by policy-makers and as an informal self-reported statement among the elderly. AAM’s results in the elderly’s residential environmental communities can improve policy-making to address urban design to sustain an active, healthy life among older people in urban environments.
Several fields of study focused on understanding the word identity; it evokes a certain gravitas depending on the field attached to it; this identity is manifested in both tangible and intangible thoughts. Furthermore, each field has its definition related to identity in the physical and non-physical senses; this approach differs in the creation of the identity itself, which allows spaces to be unique in their comprehensive identity. Specialists use this combination of responding to the elements to evoke this identity based on the field itself. From the view of landscape architecture, the focus on identity differs according to the type of function. Therefore, this research will focus on establishing the characteristics that affect the identity of the public space design through synthesising the literature reviews; the focus will concentrate on indicating the concepts that affect the design of public spaces to allow the decision-makers to achieve identity in them.
Bu çalışma yaşlı bireylerin yerinde yaşlanma ve yaşam kalitesi düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemek amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu temel amaç doğrultusunda ise, yerinde yaşlanma ve yaşam kalitesi düzeyleri, bu düzeylerin bazı bağımsız değişkenlere göre anlamlı olarak farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığı ve yaşlı bireylerin yerinde yaşlanma düzeylerinin yaşam kalitesi düzeylerini anlamlı bir şekilde yordayıp yordamadığı incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemini Kahramanmaraş’ın Türkoğlu ilçesinde ikamet eden ve uygun örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilen 65 yaş ve üstü 157 kişi oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama araçları olarak demografik bilgi formu, Yerinde Yaşlanma Ölçeği (YYÖ) ve Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği (YYK-Kısa) kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde frekans, ortalama, standart sapma, t test, ANOVA ile Pearson Çarpımı korelasyon katsayısı ve basit regresyon analizi teknikleri kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda yaşlı bireylerin YYK-Kısa’dan aldıkları puanlar ile YYÖ ve tüm alt boyutlarından aldıkları puanlar arasında pozitif yönde, orta düzeyde anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur. Ayrıca yaşlı bireylerin YYÖ düzeylerinin yüksek, YYK-Kısa düzeylerinin çok yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. Yaşlı bireylerin YYÖ düzeylerinin YYK-Kısa düzeylerini anlamlı olarak etkilediği tespit edilmiştir. Yaşlı bireylerin YYÖ ve YYK-Kısa düzeylerine ilişkin görüşlerinde cinsiyet ve yaş değişkenlerine göre farklılaşmadığı; medeni durumu, yaşadığı yerleşim alanı, ikamet ettiği evin mülkiyeti, kiminle yaşadığı, öğrenim durumu, sağlık durumu, evde bakım hizmeti alma durumu ve gelir düzeylerinin bazı alt boyutlar ve ölçek toplamında farklılaştığı belirlenmiştir.
Bu çalışma yaşlı bireylerin yerinde yaşlanma ve yaşam kalitesi düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemek amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bu temel amaç doğrultusunda ise, yerinde yaşlanma ve yaşam kalitesi düzeyleri, bu düzeylerin bazı bağımsız değişkenlere göre anlamlı olarak farklılaşıp farklılaşmadığı ve yaşlı bireylerin yerinde yaşlanma düzeylerinin yaşam kalitesi düzeylerini anlamlı bir şekilde yordayıp yordamadığı incelenmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemini Kahramanmaraş’ın Türkoğlu ilçesinde ikamet eden ve uygun örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilen 65 yaş ve üstü 157 kişi oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama araçları olarak demografik bilgi formu, Yerinde Yaşlanma Ölçeği (YYÖ) ve Yaşam Kalitesi Ölçeği (YYK-Kısa) kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde frekans, ortalama, standart sapma, t test, ANOVA ile Pearson Çarpımı korelasyon katsayısı ve basit regresyon analizi teknikleri kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda yaşlı bireylerin YYK-Kısa’dan aldıkları puanlar ile YYÖ ve tüm alt boyutlarından aldıkları puanlar arasında pozitif yönde, orta düzeyde anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur. Ayrıca yaşlı bireylerin YYÖ düzeylerinin yüksek, YYK-Kısa düzeylerinin çok yüksek olduğu belirlenmiştir. Yaşlı bireylerin YYÖ düzeylerinin YYK-Kısa düzeylerini anlamlı olarak etkilediği tespit edilmiştir. Yaşlı bireylerin YYÖ ve YYK-Kısa düzeylerine ilişkin görüşlerinde cinsiyet ve yaş değişkenlerine göre farklılaşmadığı; medeni durumu, yaşadığı yerleşim alanı, ikamet ettiği evin mülkiyeti, kiminle yaşadığı, öğrenim durumu, sağlık durumu, evde bakım hizmeti alma durumu ve gelir düzeylerinin bazı alt boyutlar ve ölçek toplamında farklılaştığı belirlenmiştir.
In the context of the thriving real estate market in developing countries like Vietnam, understanding consumer preferences and effectively addressing them through a comprehensive multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework is paramount for real estate providers. This study presents a two-stage MCDM model that integrates the Delphi technique and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) based on Spherical Fuzzy Sets (SFSs). Initially, the SF-Delphi technique validates critical criteria influencing customers' apartment selection in Vietnam. Secondly, the SF-TOPSIS method evaluates the top ten apartment providers. To ensure robustness and validity, a comparative analysis compares the results with those from the Intuitionistic Fuzzy TOPSIS (IF-TOPSIS) and Fuzzy TOPSIS (F-TOPSIS) methods. Subsequently , five rank correlation coefficients (Spearman, Kendall, Goodman-Kruskal, Weighted rank measure of correlation, Weighted Similarity) are used to assess the relationships between various TOPSIS techniques applied to apartment suppliers in Vietnam. The correlation coefficients demonstrate strong agreement among the TOPSIS methods, with the smallest coefficient being 0.7778, surpassing the threshold of 0.7. This high level of consistency confirms the efficacy of the proposed TOPSIS approach with different Fuzzy Sets in reliably evaluating cus-tomers' preferences for apartment suppliers. Notably, the legal aspect's prominence underscores its critical role in shaping customer choices, emphasizing the significance of considering legal factors in the context of apartment supply and demand in Vietnam. Furthermore, using SFSs makes this approach particularly suited to capture consumer perceptions within the dynamic and uncertain business environment characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA).
This study sought to develop and test a comprehensive model that depicts the associations of human environmental well-being (physical, financial, residential, and social satisfaction) on older adults’ life satisfaction between two ethnic groups in the US, with a focus on residential satisfaction. Data were collected through an online survey targeting Hispanics and Whites (60+) living in their current homes in the US. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group SEM were used to analyze the final sample: Hispanics (n = 322) and Whites (n = 328). The proposed model explained 65% of the variance in the life satisfaction of Hispanics and 68% of that in the life satisfaction of Whites. The results indicated that all satisfaction constructs were significantly related to the life satisfaction of Whites. In contrast, no significant association of residential satisfaction with the life satisfaction of Hispanics was observed. Further analyses reported statistical differences in the effect sizes of each construct affecting life satisfaction. This study provides valuable insights into the relative importance of residential satisfaction in shaping life satisfaction across two ethnic groups with a comprehensive theoretical framework. Additional empirical and theoretical implications are discussed.
The aspects of spatial planning have been aimed at supporting older people to stay healthy and active in their daily lives, as well as to improve their overall quality of life. Older people require accessible and functional venues and social environments that suit their emotional needs and goals. However, there has been limited study on the most significant characteristics of residential settings that impact the well-being of elderly inhabitants. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of neighborhood residential environment elements and various Quality of Life (QOL) attributes, as well as their interrelationships, to encourage healthy aging. A framework for analyzing neighborhood features was developed as part of this critical analysis through extensive analysis of chosen articles. According to the review, social life is the most influential component of QOL, followed by neighborhood living settings and housing layouts that promote mobility features to participate in physical activities, generating a feeling of community and belonging and leading to a healthy life. Further research should be conducted to investigate the influence of these characteristics on the overall satisfaction level of the elderly in later life.
In recent years, Bucharest’s residential dynamics have thrived, fueled by growing demand and an insufficient housing fund. This study aimed to analyze the residential satisfaction of those living in newly built dwellings. Its objectives were to identify the characteristics of three new residential areas and analyze the satisfaction level among residents regarding both their dwellings and neighborhoods. The investigation employed direct observations during the fieldwork phase (through observation sheets and mapping methods) and surveys (through questionnaires with residents and interviews with developers). Its results highlighted spaces that exhibit an increase in residential constructions, with a tendency to expand toward suburban areas, without necessarily meeting legislative requirements. When measuring the population’s residential satisfaction level, the study observed a general satisfaction regarding dwellings’ modernity and price but noticeable differences within the sample residential nuclei. The solutions proposed by residents mainly target authorities, who were held responsible for developing the urban infrastructure prior to granting building permits, as well as for vetting developers better and requiring them to respect the legislation. Hence, scientists, local authorities, real-estate developers and the local population represent the beneficiaries of the current study’s results.
Neighborhoods had a prominent role in cities and people’s lives during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lockdowns, social distance, self-isolation, and stay-at-home orders have increased the time people spend in their homes and neighborhoods and changed their perception and behavior towards these areas. This study aimed to measure the change in perception of and satisfaction with the neighborhood before and during the pandemic. A neighborhood perception and satisfaction survey was conducted among residents of Karşıyaka/Izmir in February 2020 and August 2020. Results showed that the mean value of perceived neighborhood borders extended during the pandemic. In addition, 9 of 48 parameters of participants’ neighborhood satisfaction evaluations were different before and during the pandemic. Some aspects of accessibility, physical environmental quality, and social relations were evaluated better after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, residents revealed more tendency to move out of the neighborhood during the pandemic pointing to an expected increase in urban mobility. All these findings reflect the ambiguity and obscurity of the situation during the Covid-19 period from the perspective of the neighborhood residents. This study is significant because it provides empirical evidence on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on neighborhood perception and satisfaction.
Cet article aborde la question de l’inclusion de la mobilité résidentielle dans une politique du « vieillir chez soi » et des mesures pratiques qui peuvent être mises en place pour faciliter un changement de domicile. La présentation d’une étude qualitative galloise permet d’explorer la manière dont un nouveau service, « Moving by Choice », a permis aux personnes âgées de déménager volontairement de leur domicile vers un habitat intermédiaire. Dix-huit personnes âgées ont été interrogées sur leur expérience du service, qui proposait des informations et des conseils personnalisés, ainsi qu’un soutien financier et pratique. Initialement conçu comme un simple service d’information, Moving by Choice est devenu un service d’accompagnement avant, pendant et après le déménagement. La présence physique d’un « caseworker » pendant le processus du déménagement, un soutien psychologique et l’implication des proches sont des facteurs importants qui aident les individus à faire des choix informés concernant un déménagement vers un habitat intermédiaire. Les résultats suggèrent qu’un tel service peut être développé pour faciliter la prise de décision des personnes âgées pendant leur transition résidentielle.
This study aims to identify the prominent factors of housing preferences, satisfaction and adjustment (mobility and adaptation) of residents of the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Area (GJMA), and investigate their interrelationship as an integrated interaction of residents with housing conditions. This quantitative study in the GJMA identifies housing affordability as the most important housing preference for the residents, followed by neighborhood, space and location norms. The study has found that housing adaptations are effectively delivered to cope with the housing deficit experienced due to the ever-changing life cycle to postpone the need to move house, which requires the implicit authority from the homeownership or family ties. However, in the unaffordable housing market with homeownership, this study suggests a massive quantity of affordable rental housing provision across the city is required to deal with the housing mobility issue to cope with the perpetual housing deficit of the residents through their dynamic life cycle.
The provision of satisfactory housing that meets prescribed standards of quality and user's needs, expectations and aspirations have always been the goal of every housing programme. Identification of residential satisfaction provides insights into inhabitants' needs, preferences, and quality of life. Housing is provided by the public and private sectors, and there is little knowledge whether the provision of housing accommodates the quality and satisfaction of the occupants. This study assesses the residential satisfaction in public and private housing schemes in City of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The study examines the residential satisfaction three angles viz., housing support services, dwelling unit's quality features and the neighborhood environment facilities. 100 households were selected using convenient sampling method. The five-point Likert scaled questionnaire was used to collect data from the residents, including occupants of both private and public housing complexes. The findings show that the dwelling unit feature and housing supportive services are significantly influenced for the residential satisfaction in private housing scheme. In public housing scheme, the residents are satisfied on neighborhood environment which makes the positive influence for the residential satisfaction. In Sri Lanka's public housing development projects, there is a necessity to improve housing supportive services by improving the quality of residential units to maximize residential satisfaction. Also, the private housing development need to be enhanced the neighborhood environment facilities which requires attention in the context of future planning.
As consumer-directed care programmes become increasingly common in aged care provision, there is a heightened requirement for literature summarising the experience and perspectives of recipients. We conducted rapid evidence reviews on two components of consumer experience of home- and community-based aged care: (a) drivers of choice when looking for a service (Question 1 (Q1)); and (b) perceptions of quality of services (Question 2 (Q2)). We systematically searched MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, and conducted manual (non-systematic) searches of primary and grey literature ( e.g. government reports) across CINAHL, Scopus, PsychINFO, and Web of Science, Trove and OpenGrey databases. Articles deemed eligible after abstract/full-text screening subsequently underwent risk-of-bias assessment to ensure their quality. The final included studies (Q1: N = 21; Q2: N = 19) comprised both quantitative and qualitative articles, which highlighted that consumer choices of services are driven by a combination of: desire for flexibility in service provision; optimising mobility; need for personal assistance, security and safety, interaction, and social/leisure activities; and to target and address previously unmet needs. Similarly, consumer perspectives of quality include control and autonomy, interpersonal interactions, flexibility of choice, and safety and affordability. Our reviews suggest that future model development should take into account consumers’ freedom to choose services in a flexible manner, and the value they place on interpersonal relationships and social interaction.
Various studies in low-income residential neighbourhoods in the old public rental housing estates in Eastlands, Nairobi have been carried out on improving residents’ environments by addressing their user needs and re-planning them using certain urban renewal frameworks. There has however been inadequate research on residential neighbourhood satisfaction. This study explores the potential of filling a gap in knowledge on residential neighbourhood satisfaction in general; and particularly examines the current level of residential neighbourhood satisfaction as perceived by the dwellers. The study explores factors that influence residential neighbourhood satisfaction by focusing on determinants such as structural attributes and quality of housing units, neighbourhood facilities, services and social amenities, locational attributes of residential neighbourhood and the social environment. The study further explores potential ways of improving the residential neighbourhood from the perspective of the dwellers.
Purpose
This article aims to understand the housing needs of older people and to ascertain the level of demand and supply of age-related housing in Scotland. It also explores interest in different types of retirement accommodation and tenure options.
Design/methodology/approach
A review of existing literature is undertaken on senior housing preferences and residential satisfaction. Primary data is collected from an online survey of people over 55 in Scotland to ascertain demand side requirements with secondary data on current supply obtained from the Elderly Accommodation Counsel and data on future pipeline collated from market reports.
Findings
The results from the survey confirm earlier research that seniors when looking for accommodation in their retirement years particularly focus on the local area, access to shops, social relations with neighbours and the design of the home interior. Current analysis of the level of supply at a county level reveals that there is significant undersupply with some particularly striking regional differences. Along with a desire for owner occupation there is interest, particularly among the 75 plus age group, to lease their accommodation, perhaps a consequence of volatile property markets, insufficient pension provision or a desire to pass wealth to their family prior to death. This shortfall in supply highlights development opportunities and raises the possibility of introducing a build-to-rent senior housing offering, which may be of interest to institutional investors.
Practical implications
The Scottish Government is currently reviewing its strategy for Scotland's older people. The results are of practical benefit as they expose the gaps in supply of age-related stock at county level. This may require the government to introduce policy measures to encourage a mix of housing types suited for the ageing demographics of the population. This research highlights opportunities for developers and investors to fill that gap and explains why advancements in technology should be incorporated in the design process.
Originality/value
This paper brings together supply side data of senior housing in Scotland and provides insights into the housing preferences of seniors. It will be of direct value and interest to developers and institutional investors.
A theory of residential satisfaction is developed and used in the specification of a path model wherein compositional characteristics of households and the context of the dwelling and neighborhood in which they live influence various dimensions of satisfaction. Relationships are estimated for 767 households sampled in Wooster, Ohio, in 1975, using two-stage least-squares techniques. Results show that certain households demonstrate less satisfaction in any residential context, and that certain dwelling and neighborhood contexts elicit dissatisfaction across the full sample. Only a few such contextual factors prove significant in most compositional subsamples, indicating that different household types differently evaluate and/or adapt to similar contexts.
Within place theory, the research investigated relationships between activities carried out in a place and evaluative aspects of the same place. In the study, 152 inhabitants, ages 18 to 55, all living in the same neighborhood of Rome (Italy) were sampled by sex. An individual questionnaire included three scales to measure frequency of activities (23 items for neighborhood, 32 items for city center, and 11 items for suburbs) and a 47-item scale to measure degree of satisfaction/dissatisfaction toward various aspects of neighborhood. Multivariate data analyses identified four groups of inhabitants (neighborhood confined, marginal escape users, multiplace hyperactive, and quality users), each characterized by a specific pattern of multiplace urban activity. Each group was characterized by sociodemographic and/or residential variables. Finally, each group was also characterized by a specific pattern of neighborhood evaluations, with respect to three main aspects (building/population density and uninhabitability, social-spatial insecurity, and functional inadequacy/unavailability).
This article extends previous conceptualizations of person-environment fit from institutional to community settings, focusing on neighborhoods. The authors consider applicability of the congruence construct for understanding the impact of neighborhoods, including dwelling units, on older persons' residential satisfaction. They argue that characteristics of person, environment, and person-environment fit are important for determining residential satisfaction. Understanding each of these distinct but interdependent influences should result in better prediction of outcomes. To provide taxonomies of environmental features, the authors consider the following four physical and two social domains of neighborhood environments, which also form counterparts of personal characteristics for community-dwelling older people: physical amenities or aesthetics, resource amenities, safety, stimulation or peacefulness, homogeneity or heterogeneity, and interaction or solitude. In addition, they attempt to specify salient environmental dimensions, which may be best understood in terms of congruence with personal preferences, distinguishing them from personal or environmental influences that individually affect outcomes.
This study tests a path model in which residential satisfaction, operationalized in terms of multidimensional perceived residential environment quality (PREQ), predicts neighbourhood attachment considered as the final criterion. Socio-demographic (age, sex, socio-economic level) and residential (length of residence both in the neighbourhood and in Rome, number of persons living together) variables are also included in the theoretical model as predictors of both PREQ and neighbourhood attachment. Using a multidimensional questionnaire for the measurement of PREQ and a unidimensional scale for the measurement of neighbourhood attachment, the study focuses on a sample of 497 inhabitants from 20 different neighbourhoods in the city of Rome. The multidimensional PREQ questionnaire comprises 20 different scales covering four main areas: architectural and town-planning features (six scales); social relations features (three scales); punctual and in-network services (six scales); context features (five scales). First, the path model is tested separately in each area using structural equation analysis. Then, the best predictors emerging from each area, together with all socio-demographic and residential variables, are included in a final model. This model shows both the relevance of predictors from all four areas in predicting attachment, and also a hierarchy between the areas in the power of the prediction (context area giving the most powerful predictors, services giving the weakest ones, architectural and town-planning, and social relations having intermediate importance). Length of residence in the neighbourhood and socio-economic level are the most relevant of the residential and socio-demographic variables. Results are discussed with reference to the multicomponential nature of the process of neighbourhood attachment.
Studied the validity of the Canadian-French version of a self-report instrument designed to measure global life satisfaction in 2 population groups. Human subjects: 871 male and female French-Canadian adults (mean age 18.93–21.34 yrs) (college and university students). 313 male and female French-Canadian old adults (mean age 76.34–76.70 yrs). The scores on the French version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (1985) by E. Diener et al—a 5-item self-report scale—were analyzed statistically, using factorial analysis and the LISREL statistical software package (K. G. Joreskog and D. Sorbom, 1984). Psychometric properties and reliability and validity indices were determined and compared with those of the original English version. Norms for college students and elderly Ss are presented. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This study examines the quality of life in Crete, Nebraska, with the specific purpose of identifying the factors that play the largest role in determining residential satisfaction. The survey asks a number of questions pertaining to different aspects of living in Crete. The survey is adapted from a survey previously used for a similar study in Schuyler, Nebraska. Focus groups are used to identify key issues in Crete and make adjustments to the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha is used to test the reliability of the topical variables, and index variables are created, which are used in the subsequent analysis. Using residential satisfaction as the dependent variable, stepwise multiple linear regressions are performed independently for the total population, the new arrivals, and the long-time resident groups. The findings of this study indicate that stressors and sociocultural issues are the significant contributors to the overall community's residential satisfaction.
This study aims to clarify the explanatory factors and theextent to which those factors help to predict the overall residentialsatisfaction among elderly people, as one of the major elements orattributes of their quality of life. The study seeks to address theresidential environment from two different perspectives: an objectivereality and old people's appraisal of this reality, on the basis of asurvey for a representative sample of people aged between 65 and 84years old who live in family housing in Madrid (Spain). In the analyticprocess, a Principal Component Analysis procedure is applied to reducethe data set and to uncover the relationships between various aspects ofthe elderly residential satisfaction. In the second step, a MultipleLinear Regression Analysis was conducted to identify the overallresidential satisfaction predictors and the relative importance of eachone. Descriptive results show a high degree of satisfaction with eachpart of the residential environment (house, neighbourhood andneighbours), higher among women and the most elderly. The predictiveregression model accounts for 50% of the criterion variance basedon 15 factors, but the first six account for 44.8%:satisfaction with home attributes, perception of the neighbourhood'senvironmental quality, agreement with positive aspects and disagreementwith negative aspects of the network of neighbours, the building'samenities and degree of satisfaction with such amenities.
The aim of this article is to introduce an integrative and more comprehensive approach to measurement of residential environmental
satisfaction. Domains of residential environmental satisfaction were empirically examined using techniques for multivariate
analysis. Data were mainly drawn from the Housing Demand Survey (WoningBehoefteOnderzoek 2002), an a-select sample of 75,034
respondents that is representative for the population of Dutch residents in 2002. The Housing Demand Survey is one of the
most extensive sample surveys in the Netherlands and is held every 4years. The results of exploratory factor analysis give
empirical support for the usefulness of the theoretically proposed three-component model of residential environmental satisfaction.
Furthermore, multi-group analysis supports the assumption of similarity of perceived quality of the living situation among
people varying in degree of residential environmental satisfaction. Reliability and validity tests confirm that the Residential
Environmental Satisfaction Scale-Dutch Language Version (RESS-DLV) is an adequate instrument and that it contributes to the
understanding of the perceived quality of the living situation. The measure correlates as expected with various criterion
measures. The compact and valid instrument RESS-DLV—and especially its abbreviated version—can be very useful as the dependent
or the independent variable variable in research carried out in the Netherlands and other European countries. First pattern
detection in satisfaction severity groups indicates that satisfaction with the subdomain ‘residential social climate’ is the
most significant component of overall residential satisfaction.
Resumen
Fundamentos: La casa u hogar familiar es el lugar donde
habitualmente se desea pasar el tiempo de envejecimiento.
Pero adem¡¤s, el medioambiente residencial es considerado
como uno de los atributos m¡¤s relevantes de la calidad de
vida, y se estudia bajo la perspectiva de la satisfacciUn residencial,
como balance entre las expectativas y los logros en
materia de medio fIsico de vida. El objetivo de esta investigaciUn
es descubrir los factores explicativos de la satisfacciUn
de los mayores con la casa, el barrio y el vecindario, y
establecer los predictores significativos de la satisfacciUn con
cada uno de estos componentes.
MEtodo: El medioambiente de residencia se estudia desde la
doble perspectiva de la realidad objetiva y de la evaluaciUn
de los individuos sobre las condiciones del entorno residencial.
La fuente de estudio es una encuesta telefUnica a poblaciUn
entre 65 y 84 aOos que habita en vivienda familiar
en Madrid. Para la consecuciUn del objetivo propuesto, adem
¡¤s de estadIstica univariante, se emplean dos tEcnicas de
estadIstica multivariable, el An¡¤lisis de Componentes Principales,
para descubrir las relaciones entre los diversos aspectos
de la satisfacciUn residencial, y el An¡¤lisis de RegresiUn
Lineal M¢«ltiple, para identificar los predictores y su importancia
relativa.
Resultados: Los resultados descriptivos muestran una elevada
valoraciUn del medio residencial, m¡¤s acusada entre
las mujeres y entre la poblaciUn de m¡¤s edad. Los modelos
predictivos explican entre un 25% y un 38% de la variable
criterio, lo que no descarta la posible existencia de relaciones
no lineales. Los factores de mayor poder de predicciUn
en cada uno de los ¡¤mbitos residenciales son precisamente
aquEllos relacionados m¡¤s directamente con cada unos de
ellos, aunque pueden destacarse los relacionados con el nivel
de dotaciones de la casa y finca de residencia, la percepciUn
de la calidad medioambiental del barrio y las opiniones
sobre los vecinos.
Conclusiones: Los predictores de la satisfacciUn de los mayores
con la casa, el barrio y el vecindario no son exclusivos
de un solo ¡¤mbito residencial; por el contrario, se observan
predictores significativos y comunes en cada ¡¤mbito, lo que
lleva a recomendar la continuidad de la investigaciUn para
analizar la satisfacciUn residencial como un constructo global
Summary
Background: Family house is the place chosen to spend the
ageing period. Moreover, physical residential environment is
considered as one of the outstanding attributes of Quality of
Life, and it is studied from the residential satisfaction point
of view. This term refers to individualsi appraisal of the
conditions of their residential environment in relation to their
needs, expectations and achievements. The aim of this
research is to find the factors which explain the elderly
satisfaction with housing, neighbourhood and neighbours,
and to set up the significant predictors of satisfaction with
these three environmental components.
Methods: Residential satisfaction involves subjective aspects
since as it is an appraisal made by individuals, as well as
objective aspects about which they give an opinion or
judgement. Data source comes from a telephone survey
representing the people aged between 65 and 84 years old
living in family houses in Madrid. Principal Components
Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression Analysis are applied
to find the relationship among variables and to identify the
best predictors of residential satisfaction.
Results: Descriptive results show a high degree of
satisfaction with the residential environment, higher among
women and the most elderly. The predictive models account
for 25% to 38% of the criterion variance, which would
indicates a possible no linear relationship too. The powerful
predictors in each component of the residential environment
are those more directly related to one of them: home and
building related amenities, perception of the neighbourhoodis
environmental quality and factors related to neighbours
network.
Conclusions: Predictors of elderly satisfaction with home,
neighbourhood and neighbours do not belong exclusively to
one of them. Moreover, significant predictors are shared in
each. Thus, to continue researching on residential satisfaction
as a global construct is recommended
This paper presents two instruments measuring the quality of the relationship that inhabitants have with their urban neighbourhoods. These instruments consist of 11 scales measuring the perceived environmental qualities of urban neighbourhoods and one scale measuring neighbourhood attachment.The 11 scales are included in four generative criteria as follows: three scales concern spatial aspects (i.e. architectural-planning space, organization and accessibility of space, green space); one concerns human aspects (i.e. people and social relations); four concern functional aspects (i.e. welfare, recreational, commercial, transport services); three concern contextual aspects (i.e. pace of life, environmental health, upkeep).The study objectives were: (a) to compare the structure and number of both indexes of perceived environmental quality and the neighbourhood attachment index with respect to the findings of a study (see [J. Environ. Psychol. 19 (1999) 331]) that used a previous version of these instruments; (b) to improve the psychometric qualities (i.e. internal consistency coefficients) of the used tools.The instruments have the form of a self-reported questionnaire which was administered to 312 residents in seven neighbourhoods (differing in various features) of a great urban context like the city of Rome.A series of Principal Component Analyses (PCA) was performed on the data.Results confirm the factorial structure of the scales, which include 19 perceived quality indexes (150 items total) and one neighbourhood attachment index (eight items). The scales show an increased level of reliability with respect to earlier studies.
Condiciones ambientales, salud y satisfacción en los mayores: algunos resultados empíricos. La edad ha sido utilizada como el más importante determinante del proceso de envejecimiento, siendo, además, una variable causal o explicativa de la salud. En los últimos años, en distintos contextos de investigación, ha existido un creciente énfasis en la idea de que más allá y más atrás de la edad (y otras condiciones biológicas), factores externos o ambientales explican las variaciones en las formas de envejecer. En este artículo, se presentan resultados empíricos procedentes de distintos estudios que muestran la importancia de los factores ambientales tales como las ayudas socio-recreativas, la accesibilidad a la comunidad, las expectativas de funcionamiento, la tolerancia y el clima social, predicen factores personales tales como salud, quejas sobre la memoria y la depresión y la satisfacción entre los viejos que viven en residencias. Asimismo, factores sociodemográficos como la educación y la renta están fuertemente asociados a la salud (salud física y mental) y la calidad ambiental parece estar, también, relacionada con la satisfacción con la vida en personas mayores que viven en la comunidad.
The "dual-channel" hypothesis (Lawton, 1996), which suggests the dual-antecedent pattern for positive and negative aspects of psychological well-being, was tested by examining the differential relationships between objective and subjective measures of family support (family contact, family quality, perceived importance of family) and friendship (friends support, friends quality, perceived importance of friendship) to two facets of psychological well-being (positive and negative affect). Face-to-face interviews were conducted with a sample of 60 older women aged 60 to 85 in one district of Hong Kong. A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses, controlling for age and marital status, demonstrated that two subjective measures (family quality and perceived importance of friendship) were significant predictors of positive affect; and one subjective measure (family quality) was a significant predictor of negative affect. The "dual-channer" hypothesis was partially supported. Recommendations regarding informal support provision for older women are discussed.
About 11% of Hong Kong's population of 7 million people are aged 65 and over and many of them live in old urban areas. Many of these areas have been subjected to urban redevelopment and some of the residents have been relocated to newer estates in peripheral new towns. Previous studies have focused on the challenges the urban environment has placed on older persons in terms of capability to cope with the demands that the environment places upon them. This paper suggests that dwelling conditions can act as stressors and become contributing factors that impact on older persons' residential satisfaction and psychological well-being (subjective well-being). This study examines the role of residential satisfaction (satisfaction with dwelling unit, estate and district) in mediating the effects of dwelling conditions (interior environment and exterior environment) on psychological well-being. A sample of older persons was recruited from a sampling frame of 16 urban sub-areas located in old urban areas and new towns. 518 older persons (224 males, 294 females) aged 60 and over were interviewed and the findings indicated that residential satisfaction was determined by assessment of both the interior environment and the exterior environment, although these were appraised differently. The interior environment had a greater impact on residential satisfaction than the exterior environment. It appeared that environmental dwelling conditions mainly affected older persons' psychological well-being indirectly and, hence, probably influenced their opportunities for successful ageing. However, subsequent tests revealed that dwelling conditions had no direct impact on psychological well-being. In light of these findings, it is proposed that the role of environmental factors and their relation to older persons' psychological well-being depends on the extent to which a person's expectations of residential satisfaction are met. Some implications of these findings for local housing and social care policy are discussed.
This article reports the development and validation of a scale to measure global life satisfaction, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Among the various components of subjective well-being, the SWLS is narrowly focused to assess global life satisfaction and does not tap related constructs such as positive affect or loneliness. The SWLS is shown to have favorable psychometric properties, including high internal consistency and high temporal reliability. Scores on the SWLS correlate moderately to highly with other measures of subjective well-being, and correlate predictably with specific personality characteristics. It is noted that the SWLS is Suited for use with different age groups, and other potential uses of the scale are discussed.
Notre recherche s’inscrit dans le cadre du modèle de congruence personnes âgées/environnement élaboré par Kahana (1975) et enrichi par Carp (1987). Elle se propose d’évaluer le bien-être perçu des résidentes en foyers-logements, en se focalisant plus spécifiquement sur le bien-être qu’elles éprouvent dans des situations de leur vie quotidienne. 104 femmes résidant depuis plus d’un an en foyer-logement ont ainsi été amenées à répondre à : 1 ° un questionnaire construit spécifiquement pour les besoins de notre étude et portant sur le bien-être perçu dans diverses situations vécues dans le foyer-logement, 2° l’adaptation française ESV pour personnes âgées (Blais, Vallerand, Pelletier, Brière, 1989) du Scale with life satisfaction SWLS de Diener, Emmons, Larsen, Griffin (1985), et 3° deux items simples visant à cerner le niveau de contrainte perçue lors de l’installation en foyer-logement et actuellement. Les résultats mettent en évidence l’impact différencié des facteurs âge, niveau de contrainte perçue lors de l’installation, niveau de contrainte organisationnelle actuelle, satisfaction de vie générale et durée de vie dans le foyer sur le bien-être perçu par les résidentes dans les différents lieux composant le foyer-logement (lieux communs, logement) et selon le caractère social ou non de l’activité pratiquée (seule ou en présence d’autres résidents ou invités).
The present volume in our series follows the format of the immediately in dealing with a topical theme of considerable impor preceding ones tance in the environment and behavior field. In view of current and projected demographic trends, it is a certainty that a broad-ranging set of issues concerned with the elderly and the physical environment will continue to be of focal pertinence-if not of increasing importance--in the remaining decades of this century. The present volume also follows in the tradition of earlier volumes in the series in being eclectic with respect to content, theory, and meth odology and in including contributions from a variety of disciplines, such as anthropology, economics, psychology, geography, and urban and regional planning. To have encompassed the whole array of disci plines and topics in this emerging field in a single volume would have been impossible. We trust that the sample of contributions that we have selected is provocative and that it will illustrate the range of problems and topics and point to promising areas of study and analysis. We are pleased to have M. Powell Lawton as a guest co-editor for this volume. His broad-ranging expertise, perceptive judgment, and fine editorial talents have contributed enormously to the volume.
This chapter describes the background, methods, and the findings of the investigation into quality of life. Perceptions of residents, staff, aides, and family members will be compared in order to better understand how they define quality of life and to ascertain the values that they give to various factors. The information could aid both practitioners and researchers in identifying. The chapter focuses specifically on the quality of life in the institution as seen through the perspectives of residents, staff, nurses' aides, and families. Multiple domains were examined, including the therapeutic environment, the physical environment, the social environment, and those domains internal to the self, that is, abilities, autonomy, and morale. The chapter highlights information to make recommendations for designing, planning, and improving procedures in long-term care facilities, and it stimulates ideas and discussions for future research on the topic areas of disagreement, in recognizing problem areas, and in devising possible solutions.
This article reports the development and validation of a scale to measure global life satisfaction, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Among the various components of subjective well-being, the SWLS is narrowly focused to assess global life satisfaction and does not tap related constructs such as positive affect or loneliness. The SWLS is shown to have favorable psychometric properties, including high internal consistency and high temporal reliability. Scores on the SWLS correlate moderately to highly with other measures of subjective well-being, and correlate predictably with specific personality characteristics. It is noted that the SWLS is suited for use with different age groups, and other potential uses of the scale are discussed.
Introduction Problems in Conventional Dwellings and Neighborhoods Localities With Large Concentrations of Elderly Residents Assets or Liabilities Planned Age-Segregated Housing for Active and Independent Retirees Financial Relief for the Older Homeowner Rent-Subsidized Housing for the Lower-Income Elderly Home- and Community-Based Formal Care That Facilitates Aging in Place Using Formal Care Barriers and Benefits Household Strategies Sharing Space with Family or Housemate Group Housing Options for Less Independent Elderly Continuing Care (Life Care) Retirement Facilities Multiple Levels of Shelter and Care Public Opposition, Land Use Restrictions, and the Fair Housing Act Conclusion
An attempt was made to develop a diagnostic tool that communities could use to determine what type of naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) they are or could most likely become. Census data were obtained for 64 cities, townships, and villages in rural Wisconsin. These communities were classified as either Amenity, Bi-Focal, or Convenience NORCs on the basis of a previous survey of 907 residents. A stepwise discriminant analysis was then conducted on the Census variables using NORC type as the criterion variable. The resultant function used four Census variables and was successful in classifying 59.68% of Amenity, Bi-Focal, and Convenience NORCs. When Bi-Focal NORCs were eliminated from the analysis, one variable dropped out as a discriminator. However, three additional variables were significant discriminators. The resultant function classified 100% of Amenity and Convenience NORCs successfully. Implications for community planning are discussed.
This research examines the effect of overall neighborhood satisfac-tion, victimization, and social participation on perceived neighborhood safety. It systematically tests the relative importance of victimization, concern with neigh-borhood "environmental" quality, and social integration into the community in predicting fear of crime. Our research incorporates three aspects into a single model that predicts the level of fear of crime experienced by local community residents. Fear of crime is measured in terms of perceived risks in various circumstances in the neighborhood of residence. As such, a measure of fear of crime can be seen as a measure of perceived neighborhood safety. Results suggest that those who exhibit higher levels of satisfaction with the neighborhood environment tend to express higher perceived levels of neighborhood safety. Property victimization, not personal victimization, is found to have an impact on residents' perception of neighborhood safety. In contrast, social participation does not seem to be related to perceived neighborhood safety. The result implies that improving the quality of neighborhood environmental characteristics will increase residents' concern with the appearance of the neighborhood along with their concerns about the quality of people who live there, which in turn enhances higher perceived levels of neighborhood safety.
Housing adjustment models theorize that demographic and personality characteristics of families combine to explain residentfal satisfaction. This article reports the operationalization of several personality characteristics. The Leford Test of Tenant Locus of Control, measures of household planning styles, an index measuring willingness to work to improve residential conditions, an index measuring participation in community activities, measures of expected and of experienced discrimination, and selected demographic characteristics are hypothesized to predict residential satisfaction. Two components of residential satisfaction, housing and neighborhood, are tested in separate regression models. The results suggest that personality characteristics are powerful predictors of housing satisfaction, whereas residental characterstics, feeling safe, and having friends in the neighborhood are powerful predictors of neighborhood satisfaction.
A multivariate, purposive model of the experience of places is offered as a theoretical basis for place evaluation. This model suggests a structure to the evaluation of places that may be generalizable across most settings. The structure derives from the definition of place evaluation as the degree to which a person sees a place as helping to achieve that person's goals at various levels of interaction with that place. In order to test empirically this framework, use is made of the facet approach to theory specification and hypothesis testing. Smallest Space analyses of two large scale questionnaire surveys, one of housing satisfaction and the other of hospital ward design, provide strong support for the purposive model. Implications of this multivariate model for future evaluations are discussed, together with the value of harnessing the facet approach to aid the development of evaluation theory.
The dual purpose of this study was to investigate in a comprehensive fashion the impact of both micro (housing) and macro (neighborhood) environmental conditions on residential satisfaction as well as to ascertain the relative importance of housing compared to neighborhood elements within a sample of urban elderly men. Data revealed that residential satisfaction was largely a function of macro environmental conditions (i.e., neighborhood beauty, safety, interest level, and quietness).
In later life, the home plays an increasing role as a site for leisure activities, social interaction, and personal growth. This research examined variables that were hypothesized to relate to home satisfaction for older adults. Home satisfaction was also compared to life satisfaction. Sixty-four older adults provided information on home satisfaction; health capacity; the psychosocial variables of self-esteem, locus of control, and social support; and life satisfaction. Home satisfaction was best predicted by health and by self-esteem In contrast, life satisfaction was best predicted by the three psychosocial variables. The outcomes of this research suggested the usefulness of a goodness-of-fit model for understanding and augmenting home satisfaction in later life.
Problem: Transit-oriented development has been shown to be socially desirable for a variety of reasons, but little is known about the benefits it provides to individual residents.Purpose: We used a natural experiment to better understand the value of convenient transit access to individuals.Methods: We queried 51 residents of a revitalizing, mixed-use, Salt Lake City neighborhood near the TRAX light rail line about their behaviors and attitudes, classifying them into three groups: nonriders; new riders, who reported recent rail rides only after the stop opened; and continuing riders, who reported recent rail rides both before and after the new stop opened. Participants wore accelerometers and completed surveys during two different time periods, one before and one after a new light rail stop opened in their neighborhood.Results and conclusions: Adjusted for income and employment, obesity was much higher among nonriders (65%) than new riders (26%) and continuing riders (15%). All other significant differences show the same pattern, with new riders' averages lying between the extremes of nonriders and continuing riders. Continuing riders had, on average, the largest number of moderate physical activity bouts, and reported the highest place attachment, the greatest neighborhood satisfaction, the most favorable attitudes toward transit-oriented development, took the fewest car rides, and had the least pro-suburban attitudes. New riders reported fewer car rides after the rail service started. The other group-by-time univariate interactions and the multivariate time main effect were insignificant.Takeaway for practice: Development with convenient transit access may provide benefits to individuals as well as improving societal sustainability. Planners may want to promote the personal benefits associated with living in transit-oriented development and rail use, including high levels of neighborhood satisfaction and place attachment among riders. Walkable designs, density bonuses, and signage or other methods of orienting transit riders to destinations within walking distance of stops may enable obese residents or others who are especially sensitive to walking distances to use rail.Research support: This work was supported by the University of Utah's Institute of Public and International Affairs, the University Research Committee, and the National Science Foundation grant ATM 0215768. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the National Science Foundation.
Suggests that social relations exist within the context of individual, family, and societal development and change. Empirical findings about the nature of social relations in the past 20 yrs are reviewed in 3 areas: demographic differences in social relations, the influences of psychoimmunological functioning, and perception vs actuality of social relations. Consideration is given to several conceptual and theoretical issues regarding the processes and mechanisms through which social relations operate. It is most likely that social relations have both a main and buffering effect on well-being, depending on the developmental and situational characteristics of the episode under examination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
background literature on quality of life [in the frail elderly] will be discussed selectively / medical and nonmedical views will be contrasted and the need for a theoretically coherent conception discussed / [discusses] persistent issues in quality of life research: objective and subjective perspectives, positive and negative qualities, and the processes by which people regulate their preferred mix of qualities of life / it will be argued that a theoretical framework which subsumes all of what is meant by quality of life may be applied to people in every state of health
major conclusion is that life qualities which depart in the positive direction from neutral have been relatively neglected in both theory and empirical research dealing with quality of life (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
This paper reports comparative social indicator data from eight member countries of the European Economic Community (EEC): Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands. Nationwide representative samples in each country were interviewed in 1977 in the context of a harmonized study of subjective social indicators. A major purpose of the study was to examine the cross-cultural generalizability of the influence of objective and subjective characteristics in predicting three measures of environmental quality: (1) Satisfaction with Housing, (2) Satisfaction with Neighbourhood, and (3) Satisfaction with Health Services, as well as in predicting the global measure of Life Satisfaction. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed on each of the four dependent variables for each of the eight countries. The cross-national comparability of predictors was examined and similarities and differences were discussed.
This paper reports results of a harmonised study of subjective social indicators carried out in eight member countries of the European Community, sponsored, on an experimental basis, by the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Luxembourg). Comparative data from nationwide representative samples from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark are presented for three key dependent measures of perceived well-being: Self-Assessed Health, Satisfaction with Housing and Life Satisfaction. The cross-cultural generalisability of the influence of demographic variables on these three measures in examined, using 4-way analysis of variance. The analyses revealed a remarkable consistency across nations in terms of the effects of certain demographic variables on some of the dependent measures; however, some inconsistencies were also revealed. Substantial discrepancies in mean scores of the same sub-groups in different countries were also observed. While further research would be required to determine whether these differences were due to objective circumstances or to cultural differences in subjective perceptions or response patterns, some tentative interpretations of the differences were put forth.
The present research adopts a transactional world view in which the home is conceived as a holistic entity comprising inter-related qualities of people, activities, setting, and time. The study is guided by the congruence model of aging people/environment interactions as first suggested by (Kahana (1975). Aging the environment theoretical approaches. New York: Sage Publications) and extended by (Carp (1987). Housing the aged, design directives and policy considerations. New-York: Elsevier). It aims at assessing the general well-being of elderly women living in their own houses or flats, while more specifically focussing on the well-being or enjoyment they feel in everyday life situations. One hundred fourteen women residents of the Région Centre, France, ranging in age from 72 to 86 years old, answered (a) a purposely developed questionnaire to measure their well-being in various everyday life situations in their homes, (b) the ESV examining the general well-being of aging people (Blais, Vallerand, Pelletier, & Brière (1989). Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 21, 210), a French adaptation of the Satisfaction With Life Scale, SWLS, designed by Diener, Emmons, Larsen, and Griffin ((1985). Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71), and (c) four items assessing (1) perceived social pressure to leave their homes, (2) perceived housing-related constraints, (3) satisfaction with the neighborhood and (4) satisfaction with the social environment. The results indicated differential impact of such factors as “age”, “reasons for choosing to stay in the home”, “general well being”, “degree of perceived social pressure”, and “level of housing related constraints” on the well-being felt by aging women living in their own homes, according to whether or not an activity is performed in company (alone or in the presence either their spouses or guests).
The residential environment occupies a special place in the lives of older adults, and satisfaction with the residential environment has been linked with general psychological well-being among the elderly. While older residents may be especially sensitive to environmental conditions, few studies have established strong empirical linkages between objective residential variables and subjective satisfaction with living units (LUs) and local areas (LAs). The purpose of this study is to explore critical issues in environmental assessment using a case study sample of 88 elderly female residents. Alternative techniques for defining multi-item variables are discussed, including a multiple regression process employing Perceived Environmental Quality Indices (PEQIs) as initial criteria. In the case study, the PEQI-based scaling technique was used to develop 26 environmental variables representing objective resource attributes of LUs and LAs. Twelve of the fifteen environmental scales at the LU level were significantly correlated with general living unit satisfaction, and seven of the eleven environmental scales at the LA level were significantly correlated with general satisfaction with the local area. Multiple regression analyses using the PEQI-based variables explained 31% of the variance in LU satisfaction and 20% of the variance in LA satisfaction after controlling for personal characteristics of residents. Interpretation and application of the environmental scales for assessing residential settings are discussed. Although qualified in their generalizability, positive results of the case study support further development and validation of the PEQIbased scaling technique.
Change in measures of well-being of all subjects of the Community Housing study as a function of change in environment was
assessed over a 6-month period. Favorable changes in housing satisfaction were associated with improvement in dwelling-unit
ambience; housing satisfaction and functional ability improved with change to a smaller unit, each of these changes occurring
independently of a variety of other measures. It was concluded that environment was a significant element in generalized well-being,
but that good environmental quality should be thought of as an intrinsic goal in its own right, regardless of whether other
measures of psychological and social functioning improve.
Residential satisfaction is important in its own right and as an influence on general well-being. Previous research suggests that objective environmental characteristics amenable to societal manipulation affect residential satisfaction. Environmental predictors were selected on the basis of a theoretical model for relevance to human needs and measured with technical-assessment items scaled independently of subjective judgments. For 88 older women living independently and alone in the community, the objective environmental variables accounted for 28% of the variance in satisfaction with housing and 26% of the variance in neighborhood satisfaction additional to that attributable to personal competence and socioeconomic status.
This study examined a broad range of environmental characteristics in hopes of identifying environmental determinants of neighborhood
satisfaction among urban elderly men. Safety emerged as the major environmental determinant of neighborhood satisfaction,
but its impact on neighborhood satisfaction was lessened when considered in conjunction with housing satisfaction. Urban planners
should assign priority to the development of neighborhoods which foster a sense of security among their elderly residents
while researchers strive to untangle the complex interrelationships between environmental characteristics, housing satisfaction,
and neighborhood satisfaction.
This article presents a conceptual model, the Urban Ecological Model of Aging, to be used by researchers to assess the impact
of living in neighborhoods of concentrated and prolonged poverty on elderly residential satisfaction and subjective well-being.
Specifically, the suprapersonal environment characteristics, or aggregated people characteristics, of impoverished urban neighborhoods
are explicated and included in a predictive model of community-dwelling elders' affective state, i.e., positive and negative
affect. Demographic and personal characteristics are also included in the model as predictors.
With exponential growth in the number of elderly Americans living independently in the community, it is important to better understand the implications of living conditions for psychological well-being among the elderly population. In a cross-sectional study, housing quality is associated with positive affect among the older adults living independently in the community. Moreover, this relation is mediated by place attachment. Elderly residents of higher quality homes, independent of multiple sociodemographic factors (e.g., income, gender), feel more attached to their home, which, in turn, appears to account for the relation between housing quality and positive affect.