Social support in the cohousing model of community: a mixed-methods analysis

Abstract

Grounded in a theoretical synthesis of social support, social capital, and social sustainability, this study examined cohousing as an innovative community model that may support social well-being. A mixed-methods design was used to explore cohousing residents’ experience of social support and the role which community-related needs play in individuals’ choices to join a cohousing community in the USA. Interviews with 10 cohousing residents yielded detailed accounts of motivations for seeking cohousing and experiences of social support in cohousing, and thematic analysis was used to explore explicit and underlying themes. These qualitative results informed the design of a survey, which was administered to 60 cohousing residents and 65 demographically similar individuals who were interested in cohousing. Findings revealed that cohousing members both gave and received significantly more socially supportive behaviors than their non-cohousing peers, and that a complex interplay of developmental, societal, and individual factors may inform residents’ experiences of living in cohousing.

Keywords:

• social support
• social capital
• sustainability
• cohousing
• community

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.