<i>‘Quality of life can be quite the nebulous subject of study. Despite this, Marans, Stimson and Webster present a cogent and insightful foray into the topic from much-needed place-based perspectives along with measurement and applications approaches. Prediction - this book will quickly become a definitive resource for quality-of-life studies!’</i>

- Rhonda Phillips, former president of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies,

<i>‘As the environment on Earth changes around us, so too does the experience of community living. And the most salient indicator of whether our species will continue to flourish is measured life quality. In this most timely volume, esteemed authors provide invaluable information and advice regarding community well-being and change.’</i>

- Robert A. Cummins, Deakin University, Australia,

<i>‘This edited book by Marans, Stimson, and Webster is a great Handbook involving a set of chapters written by experts in a variety of disciplines and fields of study. The focus of the Handbook is quality of life from a place and space perspective. The Handbook addresses issues of community well-being that can assist scholars in advancing the research agenda and practitioners in formulating more effective policies and designing urban plans to enhance the quality of life of community residents. As such, I believe that this Handbook is a treasure for both scholars and policy makers, and I recommend it highly.’</i>

- M. Joseph Sirgy, Virginia Tech, US, and North West University, South Africa,

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<i>‘This is an important collection of quality of life/well-being studies edited and written by pioneers and leaders in the contemporary research field. Special attention is given to the relatively under-studied significance of geographic place and space, with complexity of issues, methods, theories and findings thoroughly explained in user-friendly terms. Policy makers, planners and researchers in the field will find this volume a welcome aid to their work.’</i>

- Alex C. Michalos, editor of the Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research,

This erudite Handbook demonstrates how multiple approaches have been used to conceptualize, measure, and model the complex issue of quality of life (QOL) and individual well-being, emphasizing place and space as critical factors in a meaningful QOL experience.The Handbook of Quality of Life Research brings together an international array of esteemed academics who examine QOL through a series of case studies and empirical investigations, covering a range of environmental settings from rural and metropolitan regions to neighbourhoods and home environments to hospitals. Chapters use a range of methodologies and theoretical perspectives to investigate QOL in relation to place and space and their unique impacts on people. In light of the current threat posed by the climate crisis and changing worldwide demographic trends, the Handbook explores issues of migration, the impact of urbanization, the effect of natural environments and environmental degradation on QOL, and a sub-section dedicated to the importance of place for the well-being of older adults.Offering critical methodological insight into the complex and elusive concept of QOL, this book will be crucial reading for students and scholars of urban geography, social and cultural geography, sociology and sociological theory, and environmental psychology. Also, given presentation of timely empirical findings, it will be an invaluable read for urban and regional planners.
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This erudite Handbook demonstrates how multiple approaches have been used to conceptualize, measure, and model the complex issue of quality of life (QOL) and individual well-being, emphasizing place and space as critical factors in a meaningful QOL experience among diverse populations including special attention given to older adults.
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Contents: Preface xix PART I QUALITY OF LIFE: A UNIVERSAL PERSPECTIVE 1 Complexity and diversity of quality of life-related research 2 Robert J. Stimson, Robert W. Marans and Noah J. Webster 2 Overview of approaches to measurement and empirical analysis of quality of life and well-being 13 Robert J. Stimson, Robert W. Marans and Noah J. Webster 3 Investigating happiness: a socio-spatial inequalities perspective 26 Thanasis Ziogas and Dimitris Ballas 4 Understanding environmental impacts on people’s quality of life via environmental psychology: three basic principles 44 Marino Bonaiuto and Valeria Chiozza PART II QUALITY OF LIFE: MEASUREMENT APPROACHES 5 Objective approaches to investigating and measuring quality of life and well-being 60 Robert J. Stimson 6 Investigating subjective quality of life: using survey research methods 78 Robert J. Stimson and Robert W. Marans 7 Integrating subjective and objective measures in quality of life research 93 Robert J. Stimson, Rod McCrea, Robert W. Marans and Noah J. Webster 8 Assessing alternative air quality measures and their impact on quality of life: the case of Hong Kong 110 Poh-Chin Lai, Chien-Tat Low, Si Chen, Robert Stimson, Ester Cerin, Wei Cheng, Jimmy Fung and Paulina Pui-Yun Wong 9 How neighbourhood social and built environments influence social interactions: differences between life stages 127 Piret Veeroja, Greg Foliente, Rod McCrea, Hannah Badland, Chris Pettit and Jennifer Day PART III QUALITY OF LIFE IN METROPOLITAN AREAS, CITIES AND NEIGHBOURHOODS 10 Quality of life in large-scale, big-city urban environments: a world perspective 146 Robert W. Marans and Robert J. Stimson 11 Pathways from compact city to subjective well-being: evidence from Oslo, Norway 164 Kostas Mouratidis 12 The role of neighbourhoods in quality of life: toward a comprehensive model 181 Robert Gifford, Leila Scannell, Christine Kormos, Jessica Rourke and Amanda J. McIntyre 13 Exploring quality of life in new towns: an overview 198 Robert W. Marans and Noah J. Webster 14 The influence of urban layout on perceived residential quality in a Costa Rican suburb 213 Helga von-Breymann and Esteban Montenegro-Montenegro PART IV QUALITY OF LIFE IN SMALL TOWNS, RURAL AREAS AND MIGRATION COMMUNITIES 15 Quality of life in small towns: a mid-American case study 229 Rodrigo F. Cantarero and James J. Potter 16 Subjective community well-being and resilience in a rural region experiencing rapid change 243 Rod McCrea, Rosemary Leonard and Andrea Walton 17 Quality of life, amenities and recent migration across the largest US metropolitan areas 257 Gordon F. Mulligan PART V PUBLIC SPACES, QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT 18 Residential neighbourhoods, nearby nature and quality of life 274 Sara Hadavi 19 Effects of environmental degradation on neighbourhood satisfaction and quality of life 293 Byoung-Suk Kweon and Christopher D. Ellis 20 Nature-based solutions and quality of life: protecting, restoring and building human capacities 307 Marino Bonaiuto and Susana Alves PART VI AGEING, PLACE AND QUALITY OF LIFE 21 The importance of place-making for quality of life in later life: contrasting home and hospital environments 322 Hans-Werner Wahl, Julia Kirch, Kathrin Büter and Gesine Marquardt 22 Quality of life of older adults in continuing care retirement communities 338 Liat Ayalon 23 How urban environments affect quality of life in older socio-demographic groups: the role of physical activity behaviour 354 Casper J.P. Zhang, Anthony Barnett, Wai-Kit Ming, Poh-Chin Lai, Ruby S.Y. Lee and Ester Cerin 24 Neighbourhood characteristics linked to quality of life among vulnerable older adults 371 Noah J. Webster and Toni C. Antonucci 25 Conceptualising contextual variation in older adults’ quality of life cross-nationally: challenges and opportunities 386 Christine A. Mair PART VII A LOOK AHEAD 26 Overview and future directions 402 Robert W. Marans, Robert J. Stimson and Noah J. Webster
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781789908787
Publisert
2024-03-19
Utgiver
Vendor
Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Høyde
244 mm
Bredde
169 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
442

Biographical note

Edited by Robert W. Marans, Research Professor Emeritus, Institute for Social Research and Professor Emeritus of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan, US, Robert J. Stimson, Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of Queensland, and Honorary Professorial Fellow of Geography, University of Melbourne, Australia and Noah J. Webster, Associate Research Scientist, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, US