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Neighborhoods' Evaluation: Influence on Well-Being Variables.
Cristina Ruiz1, Estefanía Hernández-Fernaud1, Gladys Rolo-González1
1Departamento de Psicología Cognitiva, Social y Organizacional, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
Frontiers in Psychology
|August 17, 2019
Summary
Neighborhood resources significantly impact residents' well-being and satisfaction. Objective resource availability correlates with resident perceptions, influencing their overall residential satisfaction and reasons for living in the area.
Area of Science:
- Urban Studies
- Environmental Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- The link between neighborhood characteristics and resident well-being/satisfaction is complex and variable.
- Existing research highlights the importance of neighborhood attributes but often shows inconsistent findings.
- Understanding the specific influence of neighborhood resources on resident perceptions is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the influence of neighborhood resources on well-being indicators.
- To examine the relationship between objectively observed neighborhood resources and residents' subjective perceptions.
- To explore how resource availability and perception affect residential satisfaction and reasons for residency.
Main Methods:
- A two-phase study was conducted.
- Phase 1 involved objective evaluation of neighborhood resources by independent observers.
- Phase 2 included interviews with 252 neighborhood residents to gather perceptions.
Main Results:
- Objective assessment of neighborhood resources correlated significantly with residents' perceptions.
- Residents' perceptions of their neighborhoods were strongly associated with indicators of well-being and residential satisfaction.
- The perceived and observed availability of neighborhood resources influenced residents' decisions to live in the area.
Conclusions:
- Neighborhood resources, both objectively measured and subjectively perceived, are key determinants of resident well-being and satisfaction.
- Resident perceptions act as a mediator between neighborhood resources and overall life satisfaction.
- Well-being and residential satisfaction result from a combination of factors, extending beyond mere structural or material neighborhood elements.
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