Architectural style and green spaces predict older adults’ evaluations of residential facilities

Veronica Cerina (), Ferdinando Fornara () and Sara Manca ()
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Veronica Cerina: Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari
Ferdinando Fornara: Psychology, Philosophy, University of Cagliari
Sara Manca: Sapienza University of Rome

European Journal of Ageing, 2017, vol. 14, issue 3, No 1, 207-217

Abstract: Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of residential facilities’ design features on older adults’ psychosocial responses. Participants (N = 192) were over 65-year-old residents who were randomly exposed to different experimental scenarios concerning a hypothetical residential facility for older adults, using a 3 × 2 between-subjects design (i.e. home-like vs. hotel-like vs. usual-standard architectural style; presence vs. absence of green spaces). After the experimental session, participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire that measured their attitudes towards short- and long-term relocation, anticipated residential satisfaction with the facility, and feelings of broken home attachment. The results showed (1) more positive responses to “home-like” and “hotel-like” architectural styles than the usual-standard type and (2) the positive impact of green spaces on the assessment of the facilities. These design features should thus play a role in both reducing the stressful impact of leaving home and promoting beneficial patterns, hence fostering “successful ageing”.

Keywords: Older adults’ residential satisfaction; Attitude towards relocation; Home attachment; Architectural style; Green space (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1007/s10433-016-0406-z

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