Determinants of Housing Satisfaction of Low-Income, Rural, Male Family Heads

Abstract

A causal model based on the Morris and Winter (1975, 1978) theory of family-housing adjustment is used to examine some of the determinants of housing satisfaction of low-income, male family heads of work-force age who live in a rural area. Differences between housing norms and housing conditions are utilized as intervening variables between family characteristics and housing satisfaction. Perceived low levels of maintenance quality and fewer bedrooms than needed decrease satisfaction. Home ownership reduces home maintenance needs, but has little or no direct effect on housing satisfaction. Household characteristics tend to have indirect effects. Maintenance quality decreases with age of the head and increases with higher levels of maintenance skill of the head. Larger families tend to have greater need for more bedrooms.