Impact of physical and social environment on residential satisfaction with special reference to Surat City: a PLS-SEM-based approach

This study emphasises the impact of dwelling unit features and the social environment on the overall satisfaction of residents. For the study, a structured questionnaire was prepared using a five-point Likert scale and was filled out by 500 beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY). Relevant hypotheses were developed to explore the association and mediating effect of variables and analysed through PLS-SEM using multi-group analysis (MGA). The findings reveal that dwelling unit features are significantly related to the social environment and residential satisfaction. Additionally, the social environment also plays a significant role in overall resident satisfaction, mediating the relationship between dwelling unit features and overall satisfaction. This study has important implications for architects, urban planners, and policymakers, who can use these findings to make better decisions to improve housing quality, promote well-being, and enhance overall resident satisfaction. A comprehensive strategy for fostering overall resident satisfaction should be developed based on these insights.