Residential student housing mobility and supportive design: a cross-sectional assessment of off-campus all-inclusive university student hostels in Ghana

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between supportive design (SD) and residential mobility of students with disabilities (SWD) in off-campus student hostels in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative research techniques were adopted. A sample of 243 SWD living in 190 University Student Housing were selected. Based on the SD indicators, the partial least square structural equation model was used to explore its effects on residential mobility in SWD living in university housing. Findings Findings indicate that a sense of control and positive distraction significantly influence residential mobility to a greater extent than social support design. While the sense of control emerged as a primary predictor of residential mobility, no direct relationships were observed between the sense of control, positive distraction and social support. Although social support did not exhibit significant direct effects, its potential relevance to residential mobility cannot be dismissed. Practical implications The enhancement and compliance of a sense of control and positive distraction SD in the common areas in student housing will reduce SWD residential mobility and increase investors’ profitability. Positive social support designs are critical to predicting percentage change in residential mobility in off-campus student housing in Ghana. Originality/value SD is a theory largely used in health-care buildings. The observation of no relationship between a sense of control and positive distraction, and social support aspects of SD in university housing in this study significantly differs from the inverse relationship that exists between SD in hospitals, especially in the developing world, is a theoretical contribution.