earticle

영어

The purpose of this research is to identify the differences in motivation to move into +40 cohousing, participation in common activities, evaluation of physical environment design, and life satisfaction of Swedish +40 cohousing residents between single and cohabitant households as well as female single households and other types. The data of 127 respondents from 4 of ‘+40 cohousing’ communities used for this research are the subset of data (Choi & Paulsson, 2011) nationwide surveyed from 12 cohousing communities in Sweden. The results showed that there were some notable differences in housing characteristics, motivation to move in, participating in common activities, and evaluation of physical environment design. However, there was no difference in life satisfaction. Single households were more likely than cohabitants to be female and aged and tended to reside longer in a smaller dwelling, the aspect which female single households shared. Also, single households were more motivated to move in by personal reasons but less so by housing management reasons. Female single household had similar reasons to move in, except having more items related to security reasons. Single households were more likely than cohabitants not only to frequently participate in common activities such as common exercise/gymnastics/walking and common gardening, but also to highly evaluate common facilities such as exercise room/or similar and bath/sauna. Similar to single households, female single households were more likely than other households to frequently participate in exercise/gymnastics/walking activities and to highly evaluate various common facilities. The level of life satisfaction was not statistically different in both pair of the groups. The result of this research implies that the distinct differences of +40 cohousing found in previous research with respect to general characteristics of residents and dwelling, motivation to move into +40 cohousing, participation in common activities, evaluation of physical environment design might reflect characteristics of cohousing living of single households and more or less female single households. However, their life satisfaction remained high regardless of living situation and gender. Understanding the differences between the two pairs of groups may contribute to understanding and revitalizing the living in +40 cohousing community.

한국어

이 연구는 스웨덴 +40코하우징 거주자의 1인가구여부와 여성1인가구여부에 따라 코하우징(cohousing) 삶에 차이가 있는가를 밝히는 데 목적이 있다. 구체적으로는 이주동기, 공동활동참여, 물리적 공간환경 평가, 생활만족도에 차이가 있는가를 분석하였다. 연구자료는 Choi & Paulson(2011)이 스웨덴 전역에서 수집한 설문자료 중 +40코하우징 4개단지 거주자 127명을 대상으로 SPSS통계프로그램을 활용하여 차이검증을 실시하였다. 분석결과, 1인가구여부와 여성1인가구여부에 따라 이주동기, 공동활동참여, 물리적 공간환경 평가에 있어 유의한 차이점이 발견되었으며 생활만족도에는 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 이 연구결과는 시니어 코하우징이나 연령통합형 코하우징 거주자와의 차이를 비교한 여러 선행연구에서 나타난 +40코하우징 거주자들의 두드러진 생활특징이 1인가구나 여성1인가구의 증가와 유관하다는 가능성을 뒷받침하는 것으로 볼 수 있다. 이것은 +40코하우징에 1인가구나 여성1인가구 거주자가 증가하여 다른 형태의 코하우징에서 보다 안전에 관한 이주동기가 더 중요해지고, 공동활동 공간을 높이 평가하고, 여러 공동활동에 더욱 활발히 참여함으로써 코하우징 삶의 특징이 강화되고 있는 한편, 이로 인해 +40코하우징에서 1인가구나 여성1인가구라 하더라도 다른 가구들과 다름없이 높은 생활만족도를 유지하고 있다는 것을 의미한다. 이 연구는 +40코하우징의 1인가구와 여성1인가구에 따른 차이를 밝힘으로써 일반적인 코하우징 거주자 삶의 변화, 특히 +40코하우징 거주자의 삶을 보다 구체적으로 이해하는 데 도움이 되며, 1인가구와 고령화가 급속히 진행되고 있는 우리나라에서 앞으로 코하우징 단지를 개발하는 데 참고자료로 활용될 수 있으리라 기대한다.