Socio-Cultural Determinants of Residential Satisfaction in Private Housing in Enugu Urban, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the influence of socio-cultural characteristics on residential satisfaction in private housing in Enugu Urban, Nigeria, using a sample of 422 household respondents selected through stratified and systematic sampling techniques. Despite increasing attention to housing satisfaction in urban Nigeria, limited empirical evidence exists on how socio-cultural factors shape residential satisfaction in privately developed housing environments. (Mridha, 2023; Mohit & Azim, 2022) A mixed-methods design was adopted. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis, while qualitative data were examined thematically to support and contextualize statistical findings. Results reveal a statistically significant relationship between socio-cultural characteristics and residential satisfaction (p < 0.001). However, the explanatory power of the model was modest, with socio-cultural variables accounting for between 4.4% and 9.8% of the variance in residential satisfaction (R² = 0.044–0.098). Key predictors include family lifestyle, social interaction patterns, community participation, and domestic spatial use. Qualitative findings further indicate widespread post-occupancy modifications, including spatial extensions and functional reconfiguration of dwellings, reflecting residents’ adaptive responses to socio-cultural needs. The study concludes that residential satisfaction in private housing is significantly shaped by the degree of alignment between housing design and socio-cultural expectations. It recommends user-centred and participatory housing design approaches that integrate socio-cultural realities into residential planning in rapidly urbanising Nigerian cities.