Vol. 6 No. 12 (2016)
Open Essays and Researches

Reconsidering the Meaning of Home and the Psycho-social Well-being Perception. A Case Study in a Dutch Neighborhood

Published 2017-03-28

Keywords

  • meaning of home,
  • ontological security,
  • neighborhood,
  • psycho-social wellbeing

How to Cite

Marrone, V. (2017). Reconsidering the Meaning of Home and the Psycho-social Well-being Perception. A Case Study in a Dutch Neighborhood. Cambio. Rivista Sulle Trasformazioni Sociali, 6(12), 231–251. https://doi.org/10.13128/cambio-20409

Abstract

The paper examines the extent to which the meanings given to home and neighborhood are associated with the perceived psycho-social well-being of inhabitants and households, based on a review of the literature and a conceptualization of the meanings of home and neighborhood in various dimensions. The paper analyzes data from a survey conducted in the neighborhood of Barkmolenstraat (Groningen, The Netherlands). Using the factor analysis, two factors indicating meanings of home are distinguished: the home as a “Predictable Environment”, and the home as a “Status”. Four factors indicate neighborhood attachment: sense of belonging, safety, sociability and the feeling of being controlled. The findings from OLS regression analyses show the importance of the home as a “predictable environment” in perceived psycho-social well-being. The sense of belonging to the neighborhood and safety are positively associated with psycho-social well-being, whereas the feeling of being controlled is negatively associated with it.