Xu, L and Zhang, Z (2025) Influence of residential physical environments on occupant experience: Considering the moderating effects of indoor plants and climate zones. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 32(9), pp. 5814-5838. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose - Home is a place/system/product that becomes increasingly occupied with various tasks used to be performed in workplaces. However, the knowledge of the relationship between residential physical environments and occupant experience is limited, especially when considering the effect of indoor plants (IPs) and climate zones. To address the gap, this study conducted a questionnaire survey in three cities across different regions in China. Design/methodology/approach - Based on User Experience and Customer Satisfaction Index theory, following the research paradigm, a total of 627 valid samples were collected and analyzed in a stepwise statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics, reliability and validity test, correlation test and region comparison, then the model of PROCESS was adopted to examine the hypotheses that are given based on the former studies. Findings - The results showed that residential physical environments have a significant effect on occupant satisfaction (OS) in all regions, as well as OS on occupant performance. However, regional differences were found that OS is a complete mediator in the Middle region, while a partial mediator in the North and South. A slight moderating effect of IPs was also found in the region of South. Nevertheless, both the number of plants and plant types have a significant moderating effect on the mechanism. Originality/value - Besides combining two theories and confirming the mechanism in the residential physical environment, it is also the first study to consider the moderating effects of IPs and climate zones, providing potential empirical support for not only design and management stages but also facing global challenges of working at home and climate changes.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | climate zones; indoor plants; occupant performance; occupant satisfaction; residential physical environment; user experience |
| Index terms: | mediator, validity, statistical analysis, customer satisfaction, occupant satisfaction, paradigm, statistics, survey, questionnaire, methodology, climate change, user experience, China |
| Subjects: | service delivery, education and knowledge transfer, data science, dispute resolution, user-centered design, mathematical modelling, data collection methods, Geography, research methods, climate science, evaluation and assessment methods |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Research Practice, Stakeholder Management, Legal Issues, Geographical Context, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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