Loglinear Models for Analyzing Housing Sentiments of Family Members in a Metropolitan and a Non‐Metropolitan Community

Abstract

This study identifies sentiments about housing in general and residential exterior with the objective of contributing to empirical information about housing satisfaction indicators for families. A method of discrete multivariate analysis is demonstrated to show relationships of satisfactions and values. The data are from a cluster sample of husband‐wife families with one or more children under 18, living in a metropolitan and a non‐metropolitan community. The largest proportion of respondents‐regardless of sex, husband's age, housing type, and place of residence‐is satisfied with its housing in general, feels housing is important, and views a satisfying residential exterior as important. Levels of overall housing satisfaction and satisfac tion with residential exterior are related. This relationship appears to exist irrespective of a family's type of dwelling or tenure status. The independence of satisfaction and importance ratings of residential exterior from opposite overall housing ratings show variability in the sam ple. Income appears to be a constraint to achieving a satisfying outside of home or overall housing satisfaction. Renter status only partially explains exterior and overall housing satisfac tion levels. People in families of lower social class and in small families (three‐ or four‐person households) give higher ratings of importance to overall housing; those from small families also regard a satisfying residential exterior at higher levels of importance. Findings suggest that design, policy, and planning for rehabilitation, multifamily dwellings, and new housing forms in response to environmental concerns should give attention to users' perceptions of exterior qualities in order to foster residential satisfaction. The data from this research provide a baseline for monitoring some norms of perceived housing needs of a significant segment of the general population.