Effects of Antisocial Behaviour on Residential Dissatisfaction: A Study of Public Rental Housing Estates in Hong Kong

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) is a growing problem in many residential communities across the globe. However, the mechanism of how ASB shapes residential satisfaction has attracted little attention in the extant literature. To fill the gap, the study examined the impact of ASB proliferation on residential dissatisfaction of public rental housing tenants in Hong Kong. A theoretical framework was proposed to test the mediating roles of poor neighbour relationship and feeling of unsafety in the relationship between ASB proliferation and residential dissatisfaction. Drawing on the findings of a structured questionnaire survey conducted in Hong Kong, the study found that the perceived level of ASB proliferation correlated positively with poor neighbour relationship, feeling of unsafety and residential dissatisfaction. Furthermore, poor neighbour relationship and sense of unsafety augmented the impacts of ASB perception on residential dissatisfaction. The findings have offered deeper theoretical insights into the negative impacts of ASB proliferation on residents’ social well-beings. In addition, the research findings suggested that the positive influence of the ASB proliferation on residential dissatisfaction could be offset by improving neighbourliness and safeguarding personal safety within a residential community.