A logistic regression model of individual neighbourhood dissatisfaction was developed using data from the 1997/98 Survey of English Housing. Housing satisfaction and the general appearance of the neighbourhood were closely associated with neighbourhood dissatisfaction, although perceptions of noise, friendliness, community spirit, schools and crime were also important. Although sociodemographic factors were much less important than residential perceptions in helping to predict dissatisfaction, the type of neighbourhood remained a significant independent predictor of dissatisfaction even when residents' views were taken into account. Some factors were more important in different areas: in particular, residents in less affluent areas were more sensitive to unfriendliness and crime. There were also indications that owner-occupiers were less satisfied in areas where they had a lower tenure share. The paper concludes that neighbourhood policies with a broad spectrum of goals are required, that pay careful attention to residents' own assessments of local conditions.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adams, R.E. (1992) Is happiness a home in the suburbs? The influence of urban versus suburban neighborhoods on psychological health, Journal of Community Psychology, 20, pp.353-372.
2.
Allen, H.M., Bentler, P.M. and Gutek, B.A. (1985) Probing theories of individual well-being: a comparison of quality-of-life models assessing neighborhood satisfaction, Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 6(3), pp. 181-203.
3.
Atkinson, R. and Kintrea, K. (2000) Owner occupation, social mix and neighbourhood impacts, Policy and Politics, 28(1), pp. 93-108.
4.
Austin Turner, M., Popkin, S. and Cunningham, M. (2000) Section 8 Mobility and Neighborhood Health: Emerging Issues and Policy Challenges . Washington, DC: Urban Institute .
5.
Baba, Y. and Austin, D.M. (1989) Neighborhood environmental satisfaction, victimization, and social participation as determinants of perceived neighborhood safety , Environment and Behavior, 21(6), pp. 763-780.
6.
Baldassare, M. (1982) The effects of neighborhood density and social control on resident satisfaction, The Sociological Quarterly , 23, pp. 95-105.
7.
Brower, S. (1996) Good Neighbourhoods. West-port, CT: Praeger.
8.
Bruin, M.J. and Cook, C.C. (1997) Understanding constraints and residential satisfaction among low-income single-parent families, Environment and Behavior , 29(4), pp. 532-553.
9.
Burrows, R. and Rhodes, D. (1998) Unpopular Places? Area Disadvantage and the Geography of Misery in England. Bristol: The Policy Press in association with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
10.
Campbell, A., Converse, P.E. and Rodgers, W.L. (1976) The Quality of American Life. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
11.
Cook, C.C. (1988) Components of neighbourhood satisfaction: responses from urban and suburban single-parent women, Environment and Behavior, 20(2), pp. 115-149.
12.
Cpre London (2001) Compact Sustainable Communities. London: CPRE London .
13.
Despres, C. (1991) The meaning of home: literature review and directions for future research and theoretical development, Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 8(2), pp. 96-115.
14.
Fitzpatrick, S., Hastings, A. and Kintrea, K. (1998) Including Young People in Urban Regeneration: A Lot to Learn?Bristol: The Policy Press.
15.
Forrest, R. and Kearns, A. (1999) Joined-up Places? Social Cohesion and Neighbourhood Regeneration. York: York Publishing Services.
16.
Fried, M. (1982) Residential satisfaction: sources of residential and community satisfaction, Journal of Social Issues, 38(3), pp. 107-119.
17.
Fried, M. (1984) The structure and significance of community satisfaction, Population andEnvironment, 7, pp. 61-86.
18.
Galster, G. and Hesser, G.W. (1981) Residential satisfaction: composition and contextual correlates, Environment and Behavior, 13(6) pp. 735-758.
19.
Galster, G. and Zobel, A. (1998) Will dispersed housing programmes reduce social problems in the US?, Housing Studies, 13(5), pp. 605-622.
20.
Gruber, K.J. and Shelton, G.G. (1987) Assessment of neighborhood satisfaction by residents of three housing types, Social Indicators Research, 19, pp. 303-315.
21.
Guest, A.M. and Lee, B.A. (1983) Sentiment and evaluation as ecological variables , Sociological Perspectives, 26, pp. 158-184.
22.
Kasarda, J.D. and Janowitz, M. (1974) Community attachment in mass society, American Sociological Review, 39, pp. 328-339.
23.
Lee, B.A. (1981) The urban unease revisited: perceptions of local safety and neighborhood satisfaction among metropolitan residents, Social Science Quarterly, 62(4), pp. 611-629.
24.
Lee, B.A. and Guest, A.M. (1983) Determinants of neighborhood satisfaction: a metropolitan-level analysis, The Sociological Quarterly, 24, pp.287-303.
25.
Lee, B.A., Oropesa, R.S. and Kana, J.W. (1994) Neighborhood context and residential mobility, Demography, 31(2), pp. 249-270.
26.
Loo, C. (1986) Neighborhood satisfaction and safety: a study of a low-income ethnic area, Environment and Behavior, 18(1), pp. 109-131.
27.
Lu, M. (1999) Determinants of residential satisfaction: ordered logit vs regression models, Growth and Change, 30, pp. 264-287.
28.
Marans, R.W. and Rodgers, W. (1975) Toward an understanding of community satisfaction , in: M. Janowitz and G. Suttles (Eds) Metropolitan America in Contemporary Perspective, pp. 299-352. New York: Sage Publications .
29.
Mesch, G.S. and Manor, O. (1998) Social ties, environmental perception and local attachment, Environment and Behavior, 30(4), pp. 504-519.
30.
Miller, F.D., Tsemberis, S., Malia, G.P. and Grega, D. (1980) Neighborhood satisfaction among urban dwellers , Journal of Social Issues, 36(3), pp. 101-117.
31.
Morrissy, E. and Handal, P.J. (1981) Characteristics of the residential environment scale: reliability and differential relationship to neighborhood satisfaction in divergent neighborhoods, Journal of Community Psychology , 9, pp. 125-132.
32.
Nagelkerke, N.J.D. (1991). A note on a general definition of the coefficient of determination, Biometrika, 78(3), pp. 691-692.
33.
Newman, S. and Duncan, G.J. (1979) Residential problems, dissatisfaction and mobility , APA Journal, 45(2), pp. 154-166.
34.
Ods Ltd. (2001) Improving the understanding of the influence of owner occupiers in mixed tenure neighbourhoods. Research Report No. 89, Scottish Homes , Edinburgh.
35.
Ringel, N.B. and Finkelstein, J.C. (1991) Differentiating neighborhood satisfaction and neighborhood attachment among urban residents, Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 12(2), pp. 177-193.
36.
Roach, M.J. and O'Brien, D.J. (1982) The impact of different kinds of neighborhood involvement on residents' overall evaluations of their neighborhoods, Sociological Focus, 15(4), pp. 379-391.
37.
Sampson, R.J. (1988) Local friendship ties and community attachment in mass society: a multilevel systems model, American Sociological Review, 53, pp. 766-779.
38.
Savasdisara, T. (1988) Residents' satisfaction and neighbourhood characteristics in Japanese urban communities, Landscape and UrbanPlanning , 15, pp. 201-210.
39.
Schwirian, K.P. and Schwirian, P.M. (1993) Neighboring, residential satisfaction and psychological well-being in urban elders, Journal of Community Psychology , 21, pp. 285-299.
40.
Social Exclusion Unit (2000) National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal: A Framework for Consultation . London: Cabinet Office.
41.
Social Exclusion Unit (2001) A New Commitment to Neighbourhood Renewal: National Strategy Action Plan. London: Cabinet Office.
42.
Spain, D. (1988) The effect of changing household composition on neighborhood satisfaction, Urban Affairs Quarterly, 23(4), pp. 581-600.
43.
Stipak, B. and Hensler, C. (1983) Effect of neighborhood racial and socio-economic composition on urban residents' evaluations of their neighborhoods, Social Indicators Research, 12, pp.311-320.
44.
St John, C. and Clark, F. (1984) Racial differences in dimensions of neighborhood satisfaction, Social Indicators Research, 15, pp. 43-60.
45.
St John, C. and Cosby, V. (1995) Life cycle differences in neighborhood satisfaction , Sociological Spectrum, 15, pp. 147-160.
46.
Taylor, R.B. (1995) The impact of crime on communities, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 539, pp 28-45.
47.
Unger, D.G. and Wandersman, A. (1985) The importance of neighbors: the social, cognitive, and affective components of neighboring, American Journal of Community Psychology, 13(2), pp. 139-169.
48.
Urban Task Force (1999) Towards an Urban Renaissance. London: E & FN Spon.
49.
Varady, D.P. and Preiser, W.F.E. (1998) Scattered-site public housing and housing satisfaction: implications for the new public housing program, APA Journal , 64(2), pp. 189-207.
50.
Wellman, B. and Wortley, S. (1990) Different strokes from different folks: community ties and social support, American Journal of Sociology, 96(3), pp. 558-588.
51.
Wirth, L. (1938) Urbanism as a way of life, American Journal of Sociology, 44, pp. 1-24.
