Exploring the influence of perceived safety in residential underground car parks on residents’ satisfaction and well-being

This study finds that the environment of residential underground car parks (RUCP) compliant with design standards does not significantly impact residents' perceived safety (PS), which carries certain implications. Existing research on RUCP primarily centres on design and air pollution, with limited exploration of their relationship with residents' well-being (RWB). This study, grounded in the SHEL model, investigates how PS in RUCP impacts residents' satisfaction (RS) and RWB, thereby addressing a notable gap in the literature. Employing a questionnaire survey, the study collected 282 valid samples and conducted an empirical analysis using structural equation modelling. The evaluation comprehensively examined PS across four dimensions: software (parking management systems), hardware (parking facilities and surveillance equipment), environment (physical surroundings and layout design), and liveware (drivers and managerial staff). The findings reveal that PS does not exert a significant direct effect on RWB but influences it indirectly by enhancing RS. Additionally, environmental factors directly improve RWB but have no significant impact on PS. RS, in turn, has a marked positive effect on RWB. This study innovatively proposes an analytical framework based on the SHEL model, offering theoretical insights and empirical support for optimising the design and management of RUCP to improve overall neighbourhood environments and residents' quality of life.