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Research is mounting showing the link between the built environment, well-being and health. We explored three factors: crowding, housing satisfaction, and neighborhood satisfaction to determine their correlation with housing stress, and in turn correlation with overall level of stress. A Simple Random Sample (SRS) of blocks was generated and a total of 180 residents were sampled. Correlation and regression models were used in the data analysis. Although a direct relationship between the residential environment and the overall level of stress was not found, we did find an indirect connection via stress from the struggle for a better house.

The array of attributes theorized to impact quality of life (QOL) has sparked research across many fields of study. This multidisciplinary effort has identified influential dimensions such as satisfaction with residence, neighbourhood, economiy, social, and community issues. This study expands upon previous research, creating indices to represent dimensions shown to influence QOL, and then using regression analysis identifies the dimensions most likely to increase perceived QOL. The data indicates the combination of community support and residential satisfaction provides the best model for predicting QOL. This research helps confirm the importance of utilizing a multi-dimensional approach in the study of QOL.