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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Housing satisfaction with apartments in Henan

insights for improving the quality of condominium Mokhtarian, 2004). Housing satisfaction is affected by the
apartments in Henan, China. The identified factors resident’s gender, age, ethnicity, education level, monthly
will offer guidance for enhancing the housing income, occupation type, duration of residence, and
satisfaction of residents, whether they are maintaining housing size. In addition, the perception of the same object,
existing, aged condominium apartments or planning such as a house, varies based on individual characteristics
new ones in the region. and one’s career (Lu, 2002; Li, 2015; He & Qi, 2014). At
present, several studies on housing satisfaction, including
2. Literature review of housing satisfaction those in China, mainly concentrate on researching the

2.1. Conceptual definition of residents’ housing factors affecting housing satisfaction. Some studies also
satisfaction in previous studies delve into the consequences of housing satisfaction, such
as complaints, adjustments, and migration. In the 1960s,
The concept of housing satisfaction has its roots in customer Wolpert (1966) proposed the stress threshold theory and
satisfaction, with research in this area commencing in reviewed the relationship between housing satisfaction
the 1980s when American scholars extended the theory and mobility. His research uncovered that when residents
of customer satisfaction to housing research (Bai, 2019). found their housing unsatisfactory, housing-related stress
Housing satisfaction is a concept grounded in the subjective exceeded a certain threshold (Wolpert, 1965; Morris &
evaluation of the residential environment, encompassing an Winter, 1975).
evaluation of the degree to which the technical, functional,
and behavioral needs of the residential environment are In Korea, research on housing satisfaction, conducted
satisfied. While different researchers have examined the to evaluate the housing environment through residents’
evaluation of the residential environment from slightly POE, has encompassed various housing types, including
varying perspectives, they all share a common focus on apartments, detached houses, studios, and mixed-use
the subjective evaluation of services provided within the apartments (Kim, 2002; Kang & Lee, 2004; Ju & Yang,
residential environment and residents’ needs. For instance, 2004).
Galster and Hesser (1981) viewed the difference between the A study involving Beijing residents by Kan et al.
actual residential environment and the desired residential (2014) in China suggested that housing conditions,
environment as housing satisfaction. Baldassare (1982) physical environment, community facilities, and location
characterized it as a subjective evaluation of residents’ characteristics are key components of housing satisfaction,
living environment. Kang and Lee (2004) regarded housing and this satisfaction affects housing mobility. Factors such
satisfaction as residential satisfaction in Korea and defined it as house size, availability of elevators, natural light, noise
as the subjective evaluation of the residence status or living reduction, medical accessibility, real estate management
environment in which the resident resides. Xue (2017) services, medical services, and the placement of community
stated that housing satisfaction is a subjective judgment facilities for the elderly were found to positively impact
regarding the psychological state that represents the overall housing satisfaction, according to Gao & Xie (2015).
satisfaction of residents with China’s living environment. As
such, housing satisfaction revolves around the subjective Combining the findings of the aforementioned studies,
evaluation and perception of residents. It plays a pivotal it becomes evident that housing satisfaction, as depicted in
role in improving the residential environment by analyzing Figure 1, assumes a central role in this relationship. This
the subjective evaluation of residents and implementing observation supports the establishment of a theoretical
improvement measures in response to the needs of basis that links the personal or housing characteristics of
actual residents. In other words, housing satisfaction is residents to housing satisfaction, which, in turn, influences
summarized as an individual’s evaluation or perception resident behavior.
of their residential environment. It represents a subjective 3. Materials and methods
evaluation of the interaction between the residents’ needs
and the technology, functionalities, and behaviors provided This study was conducted using an online survey method
within the actual residential environment. and received approval from Jeonbuk National University’s
IRB in Korean and Chinese (No. 2022-08-024-001).
2.2. Factors related to residents’ housing
satisfaction 3.1. Data collection method of questionnaire survey

The assessment of housing satisfaction is subject to The questionnaire survey tool encompasses three sections:
variation due to individual differences among residents, demographic and sociological characteristics, housing
even when they are assessing the same objective reality characteristics, and housing satisfaction to gain insights
or condition (Hur & Morrow-Jone, 2008; Schwanen & into the survey’s context. The measurement of housing

Volume 5 Issue 4 (2023) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1079