The Meaning of Home in Male Migration: Listening to Men’s Experiences

We assessed the sense of psychological home among adult men (n = 17; M age = 29.7 years old) who had experienced migration to Italy, focusing on the relationship between psychological home and the process of integration into the new country. Psychological home is a dynamic process in which people sense a safe and secure environment that ranges beyond the confines of a structured dwelling, a process which is reflective and which communicates one’s self-identity. Participants engaged in a semistructured interview with the aim of establishing a generic concept of psychological home and identifying the issues that arise at the intersection of psychological home and migration. The results highlighted certain themes about the meaning that psychological home assumes in the lives of migrants and about the way in which the migration experience acts to support or hinder the process of building this sense of home. Of special interest is the idea that individuals might develop multiple psychological homes related to the different places and relationships that they experience. In this sense, establishment of a psychological home might be considered the ideal affective state for psychological adaptation to a new country.

Virtually Home - An Innovative Methodology for Identifying the Housing Needs of Marganalised Communities

<p>Home is an experience universally sought after. It is a desire somehow and somewhere built into us as humans. Yet for marginalised groups understanding what makes ‘home’ is made difficult by various technical and cost barriers. This thesis proposes an innovative methodology – using immersive virtual reality technology coupled with 3D scanning processes, to facilitate an understanding of the meaning of home for both designers an marginalised groups. Several characteristics of virtual reality are explored through a review of literature to identify the potential application of this technology as an alternative method of spatial inhabitation. Concurrently, research exploring the meaning of home and existing qualitative methodologies are analysed to establish a methodological framework for use in the current work. A pilot study applying the proposed methodology, attempts to identify the potential of immersive virtual reality, as a tool to identify what makes home for participants in the context of their own homes. As such the data generated using this methodology informs a design solution applying the qualities of home identified. The methodology proposed enables a process for identifying how the intangible nature of home is expressed within the design of housing. As such it becomes possible for both architects and their clients to ‘see’ what makes home.</p>

Virtually Home - An Innovative Methodology for Identifying the Housing Needs of Marganalised Communities

<p>Home is an experience universally sought after. It is a desire somehow and somewhere built into us as humans. Yet for marginalised groups understanding what makes ‘home’ is made difficult by various technical and cost barriers. This thesis proposes an innovative methodology – using immersive virtual reality technology coupled with 3D scanning processes, to facilitate an understanding of the meaning of home for both designers an marginalised groups. Several characteristics of virtual reality are explored through a review of literature to identify the potential application of this technology as an alternative method of spatial inhabitation. Concurrently, research exploring the meaning of home and existing qualitative methodologies are analysed to establish a methodological framework for use in the current work. A pilot study applying the proposed methodology, attempts to identify the potential of immersive virtual reality, as a tool to identify what makes home for participants in the context of their own homes. As such the data generated using this methodology informs a design solution applying the qualities of home identified. The methodology proposed enables a process for identifying how the intangible nature of home is expressed within the design of housing. As such it becomes possible for both architects and their clients to ‘see’ what makes home.</p>

Aging Living at Home: Residential Satisfaction among Active Older Adults Based on the Perceived Home Model

Background: Housing plays an important role in the aging process and health. The house and its nearby environment host most of the daily activities of older adults. Residential satisfaction (RS) has been relegated to physical issues such as accessibility. However, RS is also constituted by older adults’ perceptions about housing. This study analyzes the perceived home that develops RS in older adults. Methods: A random sample of 714 participants aged 50 to 84 (mean = 65; SD = 0.98) were used. Participants lived in ordinary housing in southern Spain. Scales measure perceptions of RS, meaning, functionality and belief of control over the home. Results: Analyses were performed using structural equation models to evaluate the dependence relationships between the different perceptions evaluated. We observe a direct influence of internal control on usability (β = 0.84) and perceived meanings (β = 0.49). However, external control shows a negative influence on the meaning of home (β = −0.14). Perceived usability (β = 0.68) and meaning (β = 0.32) positively influence RS. Conclusion: Perceptions of meaning, functionality and RS itself depend on internal housing-related control beliefs. Active older adults with higher internal control perceived their home fit better to the need of everyday life and improve RS.

The Psychometric Properties of the Meaning of Home and Housing-Related Control Beliefs Scales among 67–70 Year-Olds in Sweden

Background: The housing environment is important for health and well-being among older people, and it is important to consider both physical and perceived aspects of housing. Psychometrically sound scales are necessary to assess perceived housing. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of two instruments that measure perceived aspects of housing among a younger cohort of older adults in Sweden. Methods: A random sample of 371 participants aged 67 to 70 years (mean 67.9 (SD = 0.98)) was used. Participants lived in ordinary housing in the south of Sweden. Data on perceived aspects of housing were collected with the Meaning of Home Questionnaire (MOH) and the Housing-Related Control Beliefs Questionnaire (HCQ). Internal consistency, corrected item–total correlations, floor and ceiling effects, and construct validity were analyzed. Results: Cronbach’s alphas for all four subscales of MOH and two of three subscales of HCQ had acceptable levels (α > 0.50). Some items from both scales had low item–total correlations. All subscales, except for one from HCQ, had good construct validity. Conclusion: While both instruments had some limitations, all subscales with one exception had adequate psychometric properties. When used in different national contexts, further development may be necessary to achieve conceptual equivalence.