What is the Strength of the Link Between Objective and Subjective Indicators of Urban Quality of Life?

Abstract

Urban quality of life is usually measured by either subjective indicators using surveys of residents' perception, evaluations and satisfaction with urban living. or by objective indicators using secondary data and relative weights for objective indicators of the urban environment. However, rarely are subjective and objective indicators of urban quality of life related to each other. In this paper, these two types of indicators were linked using Geographical Information Systems(GIS) to both locate respondnets to the "2003 Survey of Quality if Life in South East Queensland" and also to gather objective indicators about their urban environment within the region with regards to services, facilities and overcrowding. Using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), the strength of the relationships between these objective indicators and subjective indicators of urban QOL can be weak, and suggests care should be taken when making inferences about improvements in objective urban QOL. However further research is needed into the links between objective and subjective indicators of urban QOL including examining other aspects of the urban environment, non-linear relationships, and moderating effects for individual differences.