Housing-related differences in sense of community in mixed housing neighborhood: Impacts of residents' daily activities and facility utilization

Recent decades have witnessed continued research interest in the residents' sense of community (SOC) towards their neighborhoods, attributed to the rapid global expansion of urban spaces and increased human mobility. Early studies predominantly focused on the influence of SOC from a place-centric perspective, emphasizing the physical attributes of neighborhoods. However, recent scholars have called for a shift in research towards an individual-activity-based approach. Despite this, there has been a relative dearth of knowledge regarding the nuanced activity factors and intrinsic pathways that impact SOC, particularly within mixed housing neighborhoods. To bridge this gap, this study utilized first-hand social survey data and daily activity diaries collected in Fuzhou to examine the associations between daily activities and SOC and identify the critical mediator. Multi-group Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis revealed several noteworthy findings. Firstly, despite living together in a mixed neighborhood, affordable and market housing residents exhibited significant disparities in their daily activities, facility utilization, and SOC. Residents of market housing demonstrated lower SOC compared to those in affordable housing. Secondly, daily activities had differing impacts on SOC between these groups. A variety of activity factors, such as the proportion of activity space to the neighborhood, time allocated to local activities, and the diversity of activity types, collectively enhanced SOC. These effects were particularly marked within affordable housing. Conversely, the positive influence of daily social interactions on SOC was exclusive to residents of market housing. Additionally, the use of neighborhood facilities serves as an underlying mechanism. Frequent utilization of proximal facilities can substantially improve SOC among residents, particularly for those in affordable housing. These findings offer valuable insights for the planning and managing of mixed housing neighborhoods and may also inspire strategies in other neighborhood types.