Social interaction, residential satisfaction, and subjective well-being among residents of congregate and noncongregate public housing

Due to rapid growth in the elderly population, especially in the number of poor and frail elders, the need for low-income housing with supportive services has increased. More frail elders are living in "independent" non congregate housing that can lead to unmet needs, low residential and life satisfaction. This research study tested the hypotheses derived from ecological theory that scores on measures of social interaction, perceived social support, and functional impairment would be differentially related to ratings of positive and negative effect, ratings of life satisfaction, and ratings of residential satisfaction by residents of congregate housing and non congregate housing. Fifty-one study participants were included from congregate and fifty from the non congregate public housing. The results show significant differences in positive affect of the well-being with congregate residents reporting higher scores on the positive affect scale of the subjective well-being than non congregate residents. Results did not show significant differences in life and residential satisfaction, and negative affect of the subjective well-being between congregate and non congregate housing residents. The analyses point that housing type was significantly associated with life and residential satisfaction, and negative affect. The implication of these findings for policy, practice and research is discussed.