Abstract:

Studying the life satisfaction of resident ecological immigrants in villages and towns is of theoretical and practical significance, and findings can be used improve the quality of life and living spaces of immigrants after relocation. In this paper, typical ecological immigrant villages and towns in Ningxia Province, China are used as case studies. A residential satisfaction index system is constructed based on an interview questionnaire that employs a structural equation model to explore the characteristics of residential satisfaction and its influencing factors. Results are as follows: First, the satisfaction index of residents living in ecological immigrant villages and towns is generally high, while satisfaction regarding public spaces, supporting facilities, and environmental conditions is slightly lower. The order, from high to low, of residential satisfaction levels across the studied towns is Zhenbeipu, Xinghai, Hongsipu, and Xingjing. Second, the average satisfaction index of different groups of residents is more than 3.5, and the level of satisfaction is high. However, there are large differences between the different groups. Young and middle-aged residents, those with large family-burden coefficients, those with high education levels, those relocated more than 30 years ago, those who do not wish to stay permanently, and those who perceive their housing as crowded have low perceptions of residential satisfaction. Third, residents’ life satisfaction in ecological immigrant villages and towns is affected by five aspects: neighborhood environment, community organization and management, public space, environmental conditions, and supporting facilities.

Key words: residential satisfaction, ecological immigrant villages and towns, influencing factors, structural equation model