Social selectivity of residential choice with regard to green spaces and their impact on quality of life
Final Report Abstract
The project examines the influence of public green spaces and private gardens on the quality of life and residential satisfaction of city dwellers, as well as on relocation decisions. Using a random sample, approximately 1,900 individuals in private households in Hamburg and Cologne were interviewed by telephone in 2020. About 900 respondents were reinterviewed (by telephone or online) one year later to check, among other things, whether they had implemented their relocation plans. For this purpose, people who were currently thinking about moving away from their home were disproportionately included in the sample in the first survey (50% people with relocation considerations, 50% without). In line with a previous study, a three-stage relocation model derived from psychological decision-making research was applied, which includes the phases of considering, planning and realizing relocation. Comprehensive data on green spaces in the residential environment were collected, including the view of greenery from living rooms ("green window view”), the presence of private gardens, shared green yards, and green spaces in the neighborhood within a 15-minute walk. In addition, other potentially relevant characteristics were surveyed, such as the presence of a balcony, allotment garden, or vacation home. The project results show that green spaces play an important role in the life satisfaction of urban residents and can help prevent relocation intentions. Having a green window view is associated with higher residential satisfaction across all social classes, particularly benefiting the working class. This supports the idea of a "socially equalizing" effect of high levels of greenery in compact cities. With regard to relocation mobility, the data show that the relevance of green spaces for city dwellers is better captured by prospectively analyzing the formation of relocation intentions rather than by looking only at realized relocations. In addition, subjective perceptions of green spaces are more strongly related to well-being and relocation decisions than objective spatial data. Differentiation by life course phase and socio-economic class is useful for a comprehensive understanding of the importance of a green living environment.
Link to the final report
https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-105840-2
Publications
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How a Lack of Green in the Residential Environment Lowers the Life Satisfaction of City Dwellers and Increases Their Willingness to Relocate. Sustainability, 13(7), 3984.
Kley, Stefanie & Dovbishchuk, Tetiana
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “How a lack of green in the residential environment lowers the life satisfaction of city dwellers and increases their willingness to relocate”: 2nd Meeting on Environmental Social Sciences, Nuffield College, University of Oxford (2021, online)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “How a lack of green in the residential environment lowers the life satisfaction of city dwellers and increases their willingness to relocate”: European Sociological Association (ESA) Conference (2021, online)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “How a lack of green in the residential environment lowers the life satisfaction of city dwellers and increases their willingness to relocate”: IUSSP’s (International Union for the Scientific Study of Population) International Population Conference (IPC) (2021, online)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “How a lack of green in the residential environment lowers the life satisfaction of city dwellers and increases their willingness to relocate”: Migration and Mobility Research in the Digital Era (MIMODE) Conference (2021, online)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “How a lack of green in the residential environment lowers the life satisfaction of city dwellers and increases their willingness to relocate”: Research Colloquium of the Institute of Sociology at the University of Bern (2021, Bern)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “My house, my garden, my green neighbourhood. The influence of private and public green space on residential satisfaction and life satisfaction of city dwellers”: Academy of Sociology Conference (2021, online)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “My house, my garden, my green neighbourhood. The influence of private and public green space on residential satisfaction and life satisfaction of city dwellers”: Seminar in Cooperation with Venice International University and Academy of Sociology (2021, Venedig)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “Does a lack of green space in the residential area trigger city dwellers’ moving decisions?”: EPC Conference (2022, Groningen)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “Does a lack of green space in the residential area trigger city dwellers’ moving decisions?”: Seminar in Cooperation with Venice International University and Academy of Sociology (2022, Venedig)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “The equigenic potential of greenery in compact cities. Green window views and residential satisfaction across social class”: Workshop on Environmental Inequality in Europe and Beyond: Current Data and Results (2022, TU Kaiserslautern)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “Does a lack of green space in the residential area trigger city dwellers’ moving decisions?”: International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS) Conference (2023, Rotterdam)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “Does a lack of green space in the residential area trigger city dwellers’ moving decisions?”: Workshop on Current Perspectives on Spatial Mobilities, AG Räumliche Mobilität in der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie (DGS) (2023, Nürnberg)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “The equigenic potential of greenery in compact cities. Green window views and residential satisfaction across social class”: Conference of the Academy of Sociology (2023, Bern)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “The equigenic potential of greenery in compact cities. Green window views and residential satisfaction across social class”: Wittgenstein Centre Conference (2023, Wien)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “Moving to the green? The importance of private, shared and neighborhood green spaces in residential relocations across the life course”: European Population Conference (EPC) (2024, Edinburgh)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “Moving to the green? The importance of private, shared and neighborhood green spaces in residential relocations across the life course”: Population Association of Singapore (PAS) Conference (2024, Singapur)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “The equigenic potential of greenery in compact cities. Green window views and residential satisfaction across social class”: European Consortium for Sociological Research (ECSR) Conference (2024, Barcelona)
Kley, Stefanie
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Konferenz-/Workshopbeitrag “The equigenic potential of greenery in compact cities. Green window views and residential satisfaction across social class”: Livable Cities: A Conference on Issues Affecting Life in Cities (2024, London)
Kley, Stefanie
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The call of the green: The role of green spaces in residential relocations across the life course in Germany. Population, Space and Place, 30(8).
Dovbischuk, Tetiana & Kley, Stefanie
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The equigenic potential of green window views for city dwellers’ well-being. Sustainable Cities and Society, 108, 105511.
Kley, Stefanie & Dovbischuk, Tetiana
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Urban Green Space Usage and Nature Satisfaction. Routledge.
Dovbischuk, Tetiana
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Wer profitiert von Grün in kompakten Städten? Grüner Fensterblick und Wohnzufriedenheit in verschiedenen sozialen Schichten. CSS Working Paper Series
Kley, S. & Dovbischuk, T.
