Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ageing in Place: Predictors of the Residential Satisfaction of Elderly

  • Published:
Social Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Abellán, A., G. Fernández-Mayoralas, V. Rodríguez and F. Rojo: 1996, Envejecer en España. Manual Estadístico sobre el Envejecimiento de la Población (Fundación Caja de Madrid, Madrid).

    Google Scholar 

  • Abellán, A. and F. Rojo: 1997, ‘Migración y movilidad residencial de las personas de edad en Madrid’, Anales de Geografía de la Universidad Complutense 17, pp. 175–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amérigo, M.: 1995, Satisfacción residencial. Un análisis psicológico de la vivienda y su entorno (Alianza Editorial, Madrid).

    Google Scholar 

  • Amérigo, M. and J. I. Aragonés: 1988, ‘Satisfacción residencial en un barrio remodelado: Predictores físicos y sociales’, Revista de Psicología Social 3, pp. 61–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amérigo, M. and J. I. Aragonés: 1997, ‘A theoretical and methodological approach to the study of residential satisfaction’, Journal of Environmental Psychology 17, pp. 47–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, R. T. and Ch. F. Longino: 1994, ‘Concepts and measurement of the housing quality of older adults: developing a public-health approach’, in E. W. Folts and D. E. Yeatts (eds.), Housing and the Aging Population: Options for the New Century (Garland, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Aragonés, J. I. and M. Amérigo: 1987, ‘Movilidad residencial en la ciudad: factores determinantes y consecuencias’, Estudios sobre Consumo 11, pp. 97–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold, Sh. B.: 1991, ‘Measurement of quality of life in the frail elderly’, in J. E. Birren, J. E. Lubben, J. C. Rowe and D. E. Deutchman (eds.), The Concept and Measurement of Quality of Life in the Frail Elderly (Academic Press, San Diego).

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, P. M. and M. J. Prince: 1990, ‘Supportive housing preferences among the elderly’, in L. A. Pastalan (ed.) Optimizing Housing for the Elderly: Homes not Houses (The Haworth Press, New York) [also published in Journal of Housing for the Elderly, 1990, 7].

    Google Scholar 

  • Birren, J. E. and L. Dieckmann: 1991, ‘Concepts and Content of Quality of Life in the Later Years: An Overview’, in J. E. Birren, J. E. Lubben, J. C. Rowe and D. E. Deutchman (eds.), The Concept and Measurement of Quality of Life in the Frail Elderly (Academic Press, San Diego).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bisquerra, R.: 1989, Introducción conceptual al análisis multivariable. Un enfoque informático con los paquetes SPSS-X, BMDP, LISREL y SPAD (PPU, Barcelona).

    Google Scholar 

  • Boletín Oficial del Estado: 1994, ‘Ley 29/1994 de 24 de Noviembre de Arrendamientos Urbanos’, Boletín Oficial del Estado 282, pp. 36129–36146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond, J.: 1993, ‘Living arrangements of elderly people’, in J. Bond, P. Coleman and Sh. Peace (eds.), Ageing in Society. An Introduction to Social Gerontology (Sage, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Broese Van Groenu, M., Th. Van Tilburg, E. de Leeuw and A. C. Liefbroer: 1995, ‘Data collection’, in C. P.M. Knipscheer, J. de Jong Gierveld, T. G. Van Tilburg and P. A. Dykstra (eds.), Living Arrangements and Social Networks of Older Adults (V. U. University Press, V. U. Boekhandel, Amsterdam).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bromley, D. B.: 1988, Human Ageing. An Introduction to Gerontology (Penguin Bookds, Harmondsworth).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruin, M. J. and Ch. C. Cook: 1997, ‘Understanding constraints and residential satisfaction among low-income single-parent families’, Environment and Behavior 29, pp. 532–553.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callahan, J. J. Jr.: 1993, ‘Introduction: Aging in Place’, in J. J. Jr. Callahan (ed.), Aging in Place (Baywood Publishing Company, Amityville, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Canter, D. and K. Rees: 1982, ‘A multivariate model of housing satisfaction’, International Review of Applied Psychology 31, pp. 185–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carp, F. M. and A. Carp: 1982, ‘The ideal residential area’, Research on Aging 4, pp. 411–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carp, F. M. and D. L. Christensen: 1986, ‘Technical environmental assessment predictors of residential satisfaction. A study of elderly women living alone’, Research on Aging 8, pp. 269–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho, M., R. Varkki George and K. H. Anthony: 1997, ‘Residential satisfaction in condomínios exclusivos gate-guarded neighborhoods’, in Brazil, Environment and Behavior 29, pp. 734–768.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohn, J. and J. A. Sugar: 1991, ‘Determinants of quality of life in institutions: Perceptions of frail older residents, staff and families’, in J. E. Birren, J. E. Lubben, J. C. Rowe and D. E. Deutchman (eds.), The Concept and Measurement of Quality of Life in the Frail Elderly (Academic Press, San Diego).

    Google Scholar 

  • Comunidad de Madrid. Censos de Población y Vivienda de 1991, Población de 65 y más años residente en vivienda familiar en el municipio de Madrid (electronic file).

  • Cribier, F.: 1988, ‘Le Logement à l'heure de la Retraite: l'example des Parisiens’, in C. Bonvalet and P. Merlin (eds.), Transformation de la Famille et Hátitat (INED: Travaux et Documents Cahier 120, Paris).

  • Cutler Riddick, C.: 1985, ‘Life satisfaction for older female homemakers, retirees and workers’, Research on Aging 7, pp. 383–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, D. L. and F. M. Carp: 1987, ‘PEQI-based environmental predictors of the residential satisfaction of older women’, Journal of Environmental Psychology 7, pp. 45–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Danermark, B. and M. Ekström: 1990, ‘Relocation and health effects on the elderly: a commented research review’, Journal of Sociology and SocialWelfare 17, pp. 25–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, E. E. and M. Fine-Davis: 1981, ‘Predictors of satisfaction with housing and neighbourhood: a nationwide study in the Republic of Ireland’, Social Indicators Research 9, pp. 477–494.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Leeuw, E. D. and W. L. II Nicholls: 1996, ‘Technological innovations in data collection: acceptance, data quality and costs’, Sociological Research Online 1, 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evandrou, M. and Ch. Victor: 1989, ‘Differentiation in later life: Social class and housing tenure cleavages’, in B. Bytheway, T. Keil, P. Pallatt and A. Bryman (eds.), Becoming and Being Old. Sociological Approaches to Later Life (Sage Publications, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández-Ballesteros, R., M. D. Zamarrón and A. Madia: 1997, Calidad de vida en la vejez en los distintos (Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales, Instituto Nacional de Servicios Sociales, Madrid).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fogel, B. S.: 1993, ‘Psychological aspects of staying at home’, in J. J. Jr. Callahan (ed.) Aging in Place (Baywood Publishing Company, Amityville, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fokkema, T., J. de Jong Gierveld and P. Nijkamp: 1996, ‘Big cities, big problems: Reason for the elderly to move?’, Urban Studies 33, pp. 353–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francescato, G., S. Weidemann, J. R. Anderson and R. Chenoweth: 1979, Residents’ Satisfaction in HUD-Assisted Housing: Design and Management Factors (U.S. Government Printing Office Prepared for the Office of Policy Development and Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington D.C.), Prepared by the University of Illinois, Housing Research and Development Program, under contract H-2653.

  • Francescato, G., S. Weidemann, J. R. Anderson: 1987, ‘Residential satisfaction: Its uses and limitations in housing research’, in W. Van Vliet, H. Choldin, W. Michelson and D. Popeone (eds.), Housing and Neighborhoods.Theoretical and Empirical Contributions (Greenwood Press, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fried, M.: 1982, ‘Residential attachment: Sources of residential and community satisfaction’, Journal of Social Issues 38, pp. 107–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • García Mira, R.: 1997, La ciudad percibida. Una psicología ambiental de los barrios de A Coruña (Universidade da Coruña, Servicio de Publicacións, A Coruña).

  • Garland, J.: 1993, ‘Environment and behaviour: A health psychology perspective’, in J. Bond, P. Coleman and Sh. Peace (eds.), Ageing in Society. An Introduction to Social Gerontology (Sage, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gentile, K. M.: 1991, ‘A review of the literature on interventions and quality of life in the frail elderly’, in J. E. Birren, J. E. Lubben, J. C. Rowe and D. E. Deutchman (eds.), The Concept and Measurement of Quality of Life in the Frail Elderly (Academic Press, San Diego).

    Google Scholar 

  • George, L. K. and L. B. Bearon: 1980, Quality of Life in Older Persons. Meaning and Measurement (Human Sciences Press, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginsberg, Y.: 1987, ‘The elderly in central Tel Aviv’, inW. Van Vliet, H. Choldin, W. Michelson and D. Popeone (eds.), Housing and Neighborhoods. Theoretical and Empirical Contributions (Greenwood Press, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Golant, St. M.: 1982, ‘Individual differences underlying the dwelling satisfaction of the elderly’, Journal of Social Issues 38, pp. 121–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golant, St. M.: 1984, ‘The effects of residential and activity behaviors on old people's environmental experiences’, in I. Altman, M. P. Lawton and J. F. Wohlwill (eds.), Elderly People and the Environment (Plenum Press, Serie: Human Behavior and Environment, Advances in Theory and Research, New York).

  • Gonyea, J. G., R. B. Hudson and G. B. Seltzer: 1990, ‘Housing preferences of vulnerable elders in suburbia’, in L. A. Pastalan (ed.), Optimizing Housing for the Elderly: Homes not Houses (The Haworth Press, New York) [also published in Journal of Housing for the Elderly, 1990, 7].

    Google Scholar 

  • Grundy, M.: 1989, ‘Living arrangements and social support in later life’, in A. M. Warnes (ed.), Human Ageing and Later Life. Multidisciplinary Perspectives (Edward Arnold, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F., R. E. Anderson, R. L. Tatham and W. C. Black: 1995, Multivariate Data Analysis with Readings (New Jersey, Englewood Cliffs).

  • Harootyan, R. A.: 1995, ‘Las casas en que viviremos. Accesibilidad y adaptabilidad’, Revista de Gerontología 5, pp. 118–125 [also published in Ageing International, 22, pp. 47–53].

    Google Scholar 

  • Herzog, A. R. and W. L. Rodgers: 1981, ‘The structure of subjective well-being in different age groups’, Journal of Gerontology 36, pp. 472–479.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hourihan, K.: 1984, ‘Context-Dependent models of residential satisfaction. An analysis of housing groups in Cork, Ireland’, Environment and Behavior 16, pp. 369–393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Instituto Nacional de Estadística: 1995, Censo de Viviendas de: 1991. Tomo I. Resultados Nacionales (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Madrid).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jirovec, R. L., M. M. Jirovec and R. Bosse: 1985, ‘Residential satisfaction as a function of micro and macro environmental conditions among urban elderly men’, Research on Aging 7, pp. 601–616.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, S. and B. J. Gurland: 1991, ‘Science of quality of life of elders: Challenge and opportunity’, in J. E. Birren, J. E. Lubben, J. C. Rowe and D. E. Deutchman (eds.), The Concept and Measurement of Quality of Life in the Frail Elderly (Academic Press, San Diego).

    Google Scholar 

  • Law, C. M. and A. M. Warnes: 1982, ‘The destination decision in retirement migration’, in A. M. Warnes (ed.), Geographical Perspectives on the Elderly (Wiley, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawton, M. P.: 1991, ‘A multidimensional view of quality of life in frail elders’, in J. E. Birren, J. E. Lubben, J. C. Rowe and D. E. Deutchman (eds.), The Concept and Measurement of Quality of Life in the Frail Elderly (Academic Press, San Diego).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo: 1999, Encuesta Nacional de Salud de España 1997 (Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Madrid).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales: 1998, Anuario de Estadísticas Laborales y Asuntos Sociales (Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales, Madrid).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mookherjee, H. N.: 1992, ‘Perceptions of well-being by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan populations in the United States’, The Journal of Social Psychology 132, pp. 513–524.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, E. W., S. R. Crull and M. Winter: 1976, ‘Housing norms, housing satisfaction and propensity to move’, Journal of Marriage and the Family 38, pp. 309–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norusis, M. J.: 1990, SPSS/PC + Statistics 4.0 for the IBM PC/XT/AT and PS/2 (SPSS Inc., Chicago).

  • Pastalan, L. A. (ed.): 1990, Aging in Place: The Role of Housing and Social Supports (The Haworth Press. New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Peace, Sh. M.: 1987, ‘Residential accommodation for dependent elderly people in Britain: the relationship between spatial structure and individuals lifestyle’, Espaces-Populations-Sociétés 1, pp. 281–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pynoos, J. and V. Regnier: 1991, ‘Improving residential environments for frail elderly: Bridging the gap between theory and application’, in J. E. Birren, J. E. Lubben, J. C. Rowe and D. E. Deutchman (eds.), The Concept and Measurement of Quality of Life in the Frail Elderly (Academic Press, San Diego).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohe, W. M. and V. Basolo: 1997, ‘Long-term effects of homeownership on the self-perceptions and social interaction of low-income persons’, Environment and Behavior 29, pp. 793–819.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seed, Ph. and G. Lloyd: 1997, Quality of Life (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Setién, M. L.: 1993, Indicadores Sociales de Calidad de Vida. Un Sistema de Medición Aplicado al País Vasco (Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, Siglo XXI, Madrid).

    Google Scholar 

  • Silverstone, B. M. and A. Horowitz, A.: 1993, ‘Aging in place. The role of families’, in J. J. Jr. Callahan (ed.), Aging in Place. Amityville (Baywood Publishing Company, New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Speare, A.: 1974, ‘Residential satisfaction as an intervening variable in residential mobility’, Demography 11, pp. 173–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svensson, T.: 1991, ‘Intellectual exercise and quality of life in the frail elderly’, in J. E. Birren, J. E. Lubben, J. C. Rowe and D. E. Deutchman (eds.), The Concept and Measurement of Quality of Life in the Frail Elderly (Academic Press, San Diego).

    Google Scholar 

  • Weidemann, S., J. R. Anderson, D. J. Butterfield and P. M. O'Donell: 1982, ‘Residents’ perception of satisfaction and safety. A basis for change in multifamily housing’, Environment and Behavior 14, pp. 695–724.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Economics and Geography, Spanish Council for Scientific Research, C/ Pinar, n° 25, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Fermina Rojo Perez

  2. Institute of Economics and Geography, Spanish Council for Scientific Research, Madrid

    Gloria Fernandez-Mayoralas Fernandez

  3. Department of Human Geography, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain

    Enrique Pozo Rivera

  4. Computing Centre, Spanish Council for Scientific Research, Madrid

    Jose Manuel Rojo Abuin

Authors
  1. Fermina Rojo Perez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gloria Fernandez-Mayoralas Fernandez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Enrique Pozo Rivera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jose Manuel Rojo Abuin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rojo Perez, F., Fernandez-Mayoralas Fernandez, G., Pozo Rivera, E. et al. Ageing in Place: Predictors of the Residential Satisfaction of Elderly. Social Indicators Research 54, 173–208 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010852607362

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010852607362

Keywords

Search

Navigation