Age Differences and Perceived Quality of Life: The Role of Spatial Characteristics of the Residence and a Healthy Living Environment

Quality of life is a multidimensional concept that includes characteristics of the residence and the wider living environment. The aim of the paper is to examine whether age groups differ in satisfaction with selected spatial characteristics of the residence and the immediate living environment, and whether comparable differences occur in the perceived healthy living environment. The research considers age and perceived quality of life on three distinct levels: specific spatial characteristics of the residence (for example, the presence of a balcony, terrace, daylighting and window view) with selected environmental characteristics of the immediate surroundings (open view, view of green areas, accessibility of green areas) and a broader perception of a healthy living environment (general perception of health and well-being). The research is based on questionnaire results that included 473 participants. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance, Tukey–Kramer comparisons and correlation analysis. The results show statistically significant differences between age groups, especially in regard to satisfaction with the presence of a balcony, terrace or atrium, to daylighting and the quality of the window view in the residences, with the satisfaction being lowest in the younger and highest in the older age group. Interestingly, there were no statistically significant differences in the general perception of a healthy living environment. The correlation analysis further showed that satisfaction and age was associated with home ownership, dwelling type, residential location and housing-cost burden, whereas proximity to green areas was not linearly associated with age. The findings showed that specific age groups perceived the quality of the living environment more pronouncedly when linked with specific spatial characteristics of the dwelling rather than the broader perception of the living environment.