Neighborhood Satisfaction Research Articles

State infrastructure and neighborhood well-being in urbanizing China

ABSTRACT Urbanization involves a process of state building. As manifest in its infrastructure, the state shapes its interactions with citizens. In this study, we link fine-grained geo-referenced points-of-interest (POI) data of government agencies with the 2018 Urbanization and Quality of Life Survey conducted in 40 localities experiencing rural-urban transition, and investigate how the presence of state infrastructure is associated with neighborhood well-being in China during a period of rapid urbanization. Our findings confirm that urbanization contributes to the expansion of local state: there is more evidence of state infrastructure per capita in newly urbanized areas than in potential sites of urbanization. Moreover, the association between state infrastructure and neighborhood well-being varies based on the type of government institution and the type of neighborhood. The presence of administrative infrastructure is positively associated with neighborhood satisfaction, which is likely due to residents’ easier access to public services. In contrast, there is a negative association between coercive infrastructure and neighborhood satisfaction, but less so for urban neighborhoods than rural villages. The research provides nationwide evidence that the process of urbanization increases the state reach as well as its influence on local governance, but the effects of this influence vary considerably.

Perceived neighborhood environment walkability and health-related quality of life among predominantly Black and Latino adults in New York City

BackgroundMeasures of the built environment such as neighborhood walkability have been associated with health behaviors such as physical activity, the lack of which in turn may contribute to the development of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. However, limited research has examined these measures in association with health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), particularly in minoritized populations. We examined the relationship between perceived neighborhood environment and HR-QoL in a sample of mostly Black and Latino residents in New York City (NYC).MethodsThis study utilized the baseline survey data from the Physical Activity and Redesigned Community Spaces (PARCS) Study among 1252 residents [34.6% Black, 54.1% Latino, 80.1% female, mean(±SD) age = 38.8 ± 12.5) in 54 park neighborhoods in NYC. Perceived built environment was measured using Neighborhood Environment and Walkability Survey, and mental and physical HR-QoL was estimated using Short Form (SF)-12. Using factor analysis, we identified two subscales of neighborhood walkability: enablers (e.g., trails, sidewalks, esthetics) vs. barriers (e.g., high crime and traffic). In addition, we included a third subscale on neighborhood satisfaction. Generalized Estimating Equation models adjusted for demographics and BMI and accounted for the clustering effect within neighborhood. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing data.ResultsMental HR-QoL was associated with barriers of walkability (β ± SE = − 1.63 ± 0.55, p < 0.01) and neighborhood satisfaction (β ± SE = 1.55 ± 0.66, p = 0.02), after adjusting for covariates. Physical HR-QoL was associated with only barriers of walkability (β ± SE = − 1.13 ± 0.57, p < 0.05).ConclusionsAmong NYC residents living in minoritized neighborhoods, mitigating negative aspects of the neighborhood environment may be more crucial than adding positive features in terms of HR-QoL. Our study points to the need to investigate further the role of the built environment in urban, minoritized communities.

Changes in psychosocial wellbeing over a five-year period in two predominantly Black Pittsburgh neighbourhoods: A comparison between gentrifying and non-gentrifying census tracts

Gentrification often leads to changes within urban neighbourhoods. While redevelopment and investment may improve the built environment in gentrifying neighbourhoods, there may be disruptive impacts that affect health and wellbeing for existing residents. A growing body of literature explores the impact of gentrification on the psychosocial wellbeing of residents. This study sought to understand gentrification’s effects on three aspects of psychosocial wellbeing in a random sample of predominantly Black residents in two neighbourhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ( n = 662). Residents were enrolled in 2011 and surveyed multiple times through 2018. We used American Community Survey data to create a tract-level measure of gentrification to categorise the 13 census tracts in the two neighbourhoods as gentrified or not gentrified between 2011 and 2018 and assessed whether gentrified tracts experienced predominantly White or Black gentrification. We then estimated multivariate regression models to test associations between gentrification status and participant-level changes in perceived neighbourhood social cohesion, neighbourhood satisfaction and psychological distress, between 2013 and 2018. Relative to participants living in non-gentrified tracts, we found those living in gentrified tracts (all of which were Black gentrified) experienced smaller improvements in perceived neighbourhood social cohesion (coef. =−0.21, p = 0.005) and neighbourhood satisfaction (d y/d x = 0.12, p = 0.003). We found no statistically significant association between gentrification and changes in psychological distress. These results suggest that although gentrification may bring about needed resources in the community, further consideration should be given to help ensure any detrimental effects on social cohesion and neighbourhood satisfaction are mitigated.

Neighbourhood satisfaction, quality of life and place attachment: a study on urban locations in India

The present study examines the antecedents of neighbourhood satisfaction, quality of life, and place attachment of residents living in the urban locations of Gurugram, India. Survey data from 321 residents (293 considered usable) of 17 private residential estates was collected and analysed by performing PLS-SEM. Results revealed that liveable amenities followed by environmental features and social aspects of neighbourhood environment positively and significantly impact to neighbourhood satisfaction of residents. Results also indicate that residents' quality of life is significantly influenced by their neighbourhood satisfaction, environmental features, liveable amenities, and social aspects of neighbourhood environment. Finally and most notably, residents' place attachment to urban locations is significantly affected by their quality of life and neighbourhood satisfaction. This study will contribute to future researchers for measuring the impact of liveable amenities, environmental features, and social aspects on residents' neighbourhood satisfaction and their quality of life or subjective wellbeing and place attachment perception.

Neighbourhood satisfaction, quality of life and place attachment: a study on urban locations in India

Neighbourhood satisfaction, quality of life and place attachment: a study on urban locations in India

Exploring potential for selection bias in using survey data to estimate the association between institutional trust and depression

We tested the hypothesis that low institutional trust would be associated with depressive symptom elevation, with attention to potential selection bias. The District of Columbia Area Survey (DCAS) was conducted by mail in 2018. Invitations sent to 8800 households resulted in a sample of 1061 adults. Institutional trust questions referenced nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government. Depressive symptom elevation was assessed using PHQ-9. Logistic regression model estimates were compared with and without adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics and neighborhood satisfaction; among complete cases and following multiple imputation of missing covariate data; and with and without survey weights or correction for collider selection bias. Of 968 participants without missing depressive symptom or trust data, 24% reported low institutional trust. Low institutional trust was associated with elevated depressive symptoms (adjusted OR following multiple imputation: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.4), although the association was attenuated with use of survey weights (adjusted OR incorporating multiple imputation and survey weights: 1.6; 95% CI: 0.7, 3.2). Under contrasting scenarios where low institutional trust and depressive symptoms jointly increase nonresponse, selection bias could lead to under- or overestimation of this association. Future research could explore posited selection bias scenarios that differ in direction of bias.

Factors associated with caregiver help seeking behavior among at-risk children

BackgroundFew at-risk school-age children receive needed psychological help, and our understanding of predictors of service use in this population is limited. Many broader contextual factors have received little attention including caregiver's trauma history and social support, father involvement, family functioning, and neighborhood satisfaction. The links between types of and cumulative maltreatment have also been inconsistent, and prior work has not always accounted for children's symptoms. ObjectiveThe current study examined child, caregiver, family, neighborhood, and maltreatment factors in relation to past-year mental health service use among at-risk eight-year-old children. Cumulative and types of maltreatment were both investigated to help elucidate the role of these experiences. Participants/setting/methodEight hundred and forty-five eight-year-old at-risk children (48.3 % male; 59.5 % Black) from the Longitudinal Studies in Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN) were included. ResultsA small portion of children (12.4 %) received psychological help in the previous year. Children's externalizing symptoms, residing with a non-biological caregiver, cumulative maltreatment and sexual and emotional abuse were associated with seeking psychological services, whereas physical abuse, neglect, and domestic violence exposure were not. Other caregiver factors, and family and neighborhood factors were also unrelated. ConclusionsNon-biological caregivers as well as caregivers of children with higher levels of externalizing symptoms may be more inclined to seek out mental health services, along with greater, and specific, maltreatment experiences. These findings indicate that child factors may be key in understanding help seeking, however, it is important to further consider other broader contextual factors in future work.

Analysis of Residential Satisfaction Changes by the Land Bank Program Using Text Mining

Many American manufacturing cities have experienced depopulation and economic downturns over the past five decades, and various revitalization strategies have been suggested to overcome the decline issue—ranging from redevelopment to smart decline. However, while most land bank-related studies have focused on socioeconomic dynamics (income levels, unemployment rate, etc.) through the program, there is a lack of direct research on residential satisfaction changes. Additionally, surveys were frequently used in previous studies to evaluate residential satisfaction; however, this method has disadvantages, including constraints on time and cost, and the inability to take into account external factors that may affect residential satisfaction. Furthermore, most studies on urban decline have focused primarily on declining factors, and there have been few investigations into how cities change as urban regeneration strategies advance. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to identify the influence of the land bank program on residential satisfaction by using Twitter data. Approximately 300,000 Twitter posts containing location information generated within the city of Detroit were collected to determine the degree of sensitivity to each tweet and categorized into positive and negative emotions to determine the relationship between residential satisfaction and the land bank program. As a result, the increase in homeownership, built year, house value, and the number of land banking sold properties were found to have a negative effect on neighborhood satisfaction in Detroit. Although the research results indicated that while the land bank program did not significantly improve residential satisfaction in Detroit, it has made a partial contribution to improving living standards. These findings emphasize the importance of enhancing residential satisfaction and suggest the need for policy change. In response to the problem of urban contraction, it seems that indiscriminately distributing houses is not the only solution to prevent urban shrinkage. Furthermore, this study shows meaningful results on text mining and provides the possibility of developing research using social network services.

Predictors of perceived neighbourhood comfort in urban and suburban areas in Finland

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The quality of residential environment, or, neighbourhood, is one determinant of overall quality of life. International studies have observed that neighbourhood perceptions are associated with socio-demographic and dwelling-related factors, and subjective and objective neighbourhood qualities such as safety or low noise levels. However, only a few studies have examined all these attributes at once and assessed the role of inclusion in neighbourhood decision-making processes; these were the aims of this study. METHODS: A survey was conducted among adults (aged 18-97) in urban centres and suburbs in five Finnish cities (n=2057; response rate 34%) in 2021. Ordinal mixed regression models (using the latent probit link function) were specified to assess the importance of socio-demographic, dwelling, and neighbourhood attributes for perceived neighbourhood comfort. RESULTS: Almost 80% of the respondents perceived their neighbourhood as comfortable or very comfortable. Apart from age and relationship status, socio-demographic factors were not associated with perceived neighbourhood comfort. Concerning dwelling, neighbourhood comfort was related to being satisfied with the dwelling (vs unsatisfied/neither: b=.77), having a green view and looking at it often (vs seldom/no green view: b=.48) or sometimes (b=.16), and living in a detached house (vs a flat: b=.27). Of subjective neighbourhood attributes, the strongest predictors of neighbourhood comfort were being satisfied (vs unsatisfied/neither) with neighbourhood safety (b=.66), green areas (b=.40), blue areas (b=.32) and maintenance of traffic routes (b=.31); and good/very good (vs poor/very poor) possibilities to influence the decisions regarding the neighbourhood (b=.42). CONCLUSIONS: Supporting previous studies, perceived neighbourhood comfort was most strongly explained by satisfaction with dwelling and neighbourhood qualities -especially safety and natural environments- and, as a novel result, being able to influence neighbourhood decisions. In upcoming analyses, we will add objective neighbourhood attributes and examine whether selected factors moderate these relationships. KEYWORDS: neighbourhood satisfaction, suburbs, green space, residential satisfaction

Neighborhood satisfaction and reproductive status.

Both urban planners and urban scholars have been keenly interested in identifying the characteristics associated with neighborhood satisfaction. One robust but surprising pattern is that the presence or number of children in a household has no effect on neighborhood satisfaction. To clarify this pattern, we measured the neighborhood satisfaction of a representative sample of 1,000 Michigan adults, whom we divided into six distinct reproductive statuses: co-parents, single-parents, empty nesters, not-yet-parents, childless individuals, and childfree individuals. We found that a simple parent vs. non-parent dichotomy hides significant heterogeneity among these groups. Specifically, we found that single parents and childfree individuals experience significantly less neighborhood satisfaction than other groups. We conclude by reflecting on the methodological and practical implications of differences in neighborhood satisfaction when more nuanced reproductive statuses are considered.

The Relationship between Geographic Accessibility to Neighborhood Facilities, Remote Work, and Changes in Neighborhood Satisfaction after the Emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and working remotely may decrease the advantages of residing in populated areas. This study aims to test the relationship between remote work and changes in neighborhood satisfaction and to discern the difference according to both the status of remote work and the centrality of areas where people live in the relationships between geographic accessibility to neighborhood facilities and changes in neighborhood satisfaction. By using an ordinal logistic regression, we analyzed data from a questionnaire completed by residents of the 23 wards of Tokyo. Working remotely was found to increase neighborhood satisfaction of people living in a central (OR = 1.31) and a noncentral area (OR = 1.50). Remote workers living in single-family homes were found to be less satisfied with their neighborhoods. Less decrease (or increase) in geographic accessibility to eating facilities was found to be related to increase in neighborhood satisfaction for both remote and nonremote workers regardless of the centrality of areas where they live. The findings suggest that populated areas continue to provide benefits which will improve neighborhood satisfaction even after the start of a pandemic; however, there could be a shift of demand for facilities in central areas to noncentral areas beyond the emergence of the pandemic.

Residential and workplace neighborhood environments and life satisfaction: Exploring chain-mediation effects of activity and place satisfaction

Enhancing people's life satisfaction is the ultimate goal of efforts to build happy cities. Urban planners thus aim to optimize the environment to improve life satisfaction. We use structural equation models to explore the relationship of life satisfaction with perceived environmental elements in residential and workplace neighborhoods mediated by domain satisfaction based on a sample comprising 1058 respondents in Shanghai in 2018. The results suggest that the residential environment contributes more to life satisfaction than the workplace environment does. In residential neighborhoods, perceived environmental quality and social capital are important to life satisfaction, while in workplace neighborhoods, perceived accessibility is the most critical element, followed by perceived environmental quality. Moreover, perceived environmental elements can influence life satisfaction by affecting commute satisfaction and residential neighborhood satisfaction and/or workplace neighborhood satisfaction. These findings suggest that optimizing the environment in both residential and workplace neighborhoods helps improve people's satisfaction with specific domains and overall life.

Satisfaction with the Pedestrian Environment and Its Relationship to Neighborhood Satisfaction in Seoul, South Korea

This study investigated the relationship between the degree of satisfaction with the pedestrian environments in their neighborhoods and the degree of neighborhood satisfaction in Seoul, South Korea. This study employed proportional odds logistic regression and gradient boosting decision tree models, using the 2021 Seoul Urban Policy Indicator Survey. The key findings are as follows. First, there was a significant and positive relationship between the two factors. Second, respondents’ satisfaction levels with pedestrian environments showed higher feature importance than other factors. Third, the partial dependence plots show non-linear relationships; specifically, when respondents reported being satisfied or very satisfied with pedestrian environments, the partial dependence on the dependent variable increased significantly. This study contributes to (1) finding the association between the two factors, (2) offering insights into how to improve residents’ satisfaction with their neighborhood through pedestrian environment satisfaction, and (3) unfolding what active mobility means to people.

Neighbourhood (dis)satisfaction in a former closed Soviet city: the case of Dnipro(petrovsk), Ukraine

This paper describes and analyses the geography and factors of the neighbourhood satisfaction of the residents of a former post-WWII Soviet closed city in Ukraine – the post-Soviet city of Dnipro (population ca. one million). It is based on a questionnaire survey (n=1248) among adult (18+) inhabitants in Dnipro conducted in early 2018. The results show that the current inner-urban pattern is characterised by semi-peripheralised neighbourhood satisfaction, which is a consequence of the significant influence of (among other factors): infrastructure availability in the neighbourhood, the social and natural environmental in the neighbourhood, and the set of Soviet-legacy factors (the “Soviet” factor). Surprisingly, the highest level of neighbourhood satisfaction in the city of Dnipro is observed in one of the peripheral neighbourhoods (with predominant detached housing), in which the residents’ evaluation of their residential neighbourhood follows the proximity effect.

Shared Satisfaction among Residents Living in Multiracial Neighborhoods

Abstract Multiracial neighborhood integration has become more common in U.S. metropolitan areas over the past three decades. This article takes up the question: are residents satisfied living in multiracial neighborhoods? Traditional theories of racial change predict low levels of satisfaction in these neighborhoods, while newer studies question that prediction. The article uses data representing all residents of multiracial neighborhoods in the Washington, DC, area to study neighborhood satisfaction in multiracial neighborhoods. The analysis finds evidence of shared satisfaction among residents regardless of race: large and equal shares of each racial group were satisfied. White residents were less satisfied than white residents of neighborhoods elsewhere in the metropolitan region, but were unlikely to perceive neighborhood decline. The shared satisfaction among residents of all races and the lack of racial antipathy to change among white residents suggests that multiracial neighborhoods offer sites to promote racial equity.

What Matters Most for Neighborhood Greenspace Usability and Satisfaction in Riyadh: Size or Distance to Home?

Much research work has been carried out on larger urban parks. Smaller neighborhood greenspaces have not received as much academic attention, particularly in sprawling large cities of the developing world. This paper examines the frequency of use and user satisfaction with smaller urban greenspaces within the residential neighborhoods of Riyadh metropolitan city, Saudi Arabia. To measure use frequency and satisfaction level differentials among neighborhood residents, gap analysis using paired samples t-test was performed to assess the differences between mean score ratings of expected (pre-use) and experienced (post-use) feelings of user satisfaction with local greenspace features. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to measure user satisfaction. Pearson r correlation coefficient, chi-square test and F-test were also used to examine the relationships between dependent (usability and satisfaction) and independent variables. The findings show that smaller size, close-to-home neighborhood greenspaces in Riyadh fell short of drawing many users or meeting user expectations. Larger local greenspaces however, managed to attract much more users even from relatively far-away neighborhoods. Size rather than closeness to home is a much stronger determinant affecting use frequency and user satisfaction with local neighborhood green spaces. It is therefore recommended to amend the city’s planning codes and regulations that require the provision of local greens based on service or catchment areas of 500–800 m. They should insist instead on the need for a minimum area requirement of such facilities if their usability and user satisfaction are to be enhanced.

Parent-adolescent relationship and friendship quality: Psychological capital as mediator and neighborhood safety and satisfaction as moderator

Parent-adolescent relationship and friendship quality: Psychological capital as mediator and neighborhood safety and satisfaction as moderator

Locus of control and the mental health effects of local area crime

RationaleExposure to local crime can constitute profound and continuing trauma with significant mental health implications. This is true for both victims and others within society who have not been directly victimised. Yet, for most policymakers, understanding what can be done to help victims to improve their level of mental wellbeing, has proved to be extremely challenging. ObjectiveOur objective is to explore the role of locus of control (LoC), an important personality trait, in helping victims to develop resilience against crime. Specifically, we seek to examine the impact of local area crime rates on the mental health of residents and whether a person's LoC can help build resilience against the negative mental health effects from local area crime. MethodsUsing 19 waves of longitudinal data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, covering 15,245 adults between the ages of 21 and 59 years, we employ an empirical strategy that addresses the issue of sorting and endogenous crime-related moving behaviour. ResultsWe find that local area crime lowers mental health for residents, and that those who are more internal on LoC are more resilient to the adverse effects of local crime on mental health. Our results also show that social capital, physical activity, perceived safety and neighbourhood satisfaction are mechanisms through which LoC moderates the effect of local crime on mental health. ConclusionOur findings have important implications for developing policies that seek to address the negative effects of crime. We propose policies that promote building safer communities and fostering social inclusion as ways to reduce the effect of crime on mental health.

Family and Friends Living Nearby, Neighborhood Satisfaction, and Residential Mobility

This study draws on panel data from the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey ( N = 1,128) to examine whether and how family and friends living close-by are associated with individuals’ interneighborhood residential mobility. Additional analyses tap into why individuals’ proportion of nearby kin and friends are linked to their mobility. The results suggest that individuals’ perceptions of their neighborhood are patterned by whether or not they have family—and to a lesser extent friends—who live locally. The absence of nearby family is associated with leaving the neighborhood, but the direct effects do not hold for nearby friends. However, the role of friends does become important in the absence of family ties. The results also indicate that having nearby friends moderates the relationship between neighborhood satisfaction and moving away.

Psychosocial and environmental determinants of physical activity in a Brazilian public university employees - ELDAF: A prospective cohort study protocol.

BackgroundIncreased physical activity levels and their determinations are essential issues worldwide. The Longitudinal Study of Physical Activity Determinants (ELDAF) aims to understand the roles of psychosocial and environmental factors in workers’ physical activity levels.MethodsA prospective cohort study of non-faculty civil servants from a public university (approximately 1,200 individuals) will start in 2022 (baseline). The primary measurements will be accelerometer- and questionnaire-based physical activity, social support, social network, socioeconomic status, bereavement, job stress, body image, common mental disorders, depression, and neighborhood satisfaction. Additional measurements will include necessary sociodemographic, physical morbidity, lifestyle and anthropometric information. Participants’ places of residence will be geocoded using complete addresses. All participants will furnish written, informed consent before the beginning of the study. Pilot studies were performed to identify and correct potential problems in the data collection instruments and procedures. ELDAF will be the first cohort study conducted in Latin America to investigate physical activity and its determinants.