The Mechanisms of the Influence of Living Circle Business Layout on Residents’ Sense of Acquisition and Happiness

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jmsd.202612417

Author(s)

Jun Zhou

Affiliation(s)

Department of Chongqing Business Vocational College, Chongqing, China

Abstract

As urbanization accelerates, the spatial configuration of commercial facilities within residential life circles has become increasingly pivotal to residents' daily convenience, sense of acquisition, and happiness, thereby underscoring its significance for urban planning optimization. Drawing on a sample of 220 respondents from 10 pilot communities in Chongqing’s Liangjiang New Area and Jiulongpo District, this paper examines the influence of living-circle commercial layouts on residents’ subjective well-being and sense of acquisition and happiness.We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze anonymous questionnaire and on-site field interview data collected from permanent residents aged 20–65, with reliability/validity checks, correlation analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis confirming result robustness. Four significant predictors of residents’ dual outcomes-sense of gain and happiness-were identified: resident demographic characteristics, commercial format configuration, community type, and community service satisfaction. Both basic daily-needs and quality-upgraded commercial formats exert significant independent positive effects on residents’ sense of gain; service satisfaction significantly predicts both outcomes. Sense of gain partially mediates the direct link between commercial format configuration and resident happiness. Optimizing neighborhood commercial layouts and improving accessible community services are proven evidence-based strategies to boost residents’ long-term quality of life.

Keywords

Living Circles; Business Layout; Structural Equation Modeling (SEM); Residents’ Happiness

References

[1] Editorial Board. 15-Minute City: The Ideal Urban Vision Defined by the Quarter-Hour Living Circle. Beijing Planning and Construction 2023, (4), 4-5. [2] Shannon, R.; Mant, J. 20-Minute Neighbourhoods: Creating a More Liveable Melbourne. Journal of Transport and Health 2019. [3] Harada, Y.; et al. The Process and Challenges of Resident-Led Reconstruction in a Mountain Community Damaged by the Northern Kyushu Torrential Rain Disaster: A Case Study of the Hiraenoki Community, Asakura City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Forests 2023, 14(4), 664. [4] Chen, L.; Su, Y.; Wang, X.; et al. Re-Measuring Residents' Subjective Well-Being: Analysis Based on Social Media Text and the Large Language Model SentiGLM. Journal of Econometrics 2025, 5 (01), 267-292. [5] Liu, Z.Y.; Liu, X.Y. Exploring Theoretical and Practical Issues in the Construction of a 15-Minute Convenient Living Circle in Cities. Journal of Commercial Economic Research 2024, (21), 61-64. [6] Wu, H.; Wang, L.-z.; et al. Analysis and optimization of 15-minute community life circle based on supply and demand matching: A case study of Shanghai. PLoS ONE 2021. [7] Wang, D.; Lin, Y.; Jin, M.H.; et al. Research on the Theory and Urban Planning Application of Spatial Interaction. Modern Urban Research 2020, (09), 47-54. [8] Zhu, Y.N.; Li, C. Strategies for Applying Community Living Circle Planning Concepts in Urban Green Space System Planning: A Case Study of Yueyang City. Chinese Landscape Architecture 2024, 40 (07), 97-103. [9] Bailian Group & Shanghai Business Development Research Center. 2022 Report on Community Commercial Development in Quarter-Hour Convenient Living Circles. Bailian Group & Shanghai Business Development Research Center 2022. [10] Hu, R.; Jiao, M. The Foundation of Good Governance: Chinese Public Sentiment of Achievement and Political Support. Southeast Academic Research 2023, (06), 78-88. [11] Wang, T.; Tan, Y.; Fu, X. The Residents' Sense of Gain in China and Its Determinants. Finance & Economics 2018, Issue 9. [12] Li, Y.; Liang, Y.; Wang, Y. Study in the Two-Path Mechanism of Community Commercial Retail Layout on Residents’ Senses of Gain and Wellbeing. Chinese Journal of Management 2022, 19 (12), 1784-1791. [13] Li, D.; Li, L.; Huang, G.; et al. Influence mechanism of elderly citizens' sense of gain from smart city construction. Journal of Southeast University (Natural Science Edition) 2023, 53 (06), 1111-1118. [14] Shen, Y.; Fu, X. The Mechanism of the Impact of Community Subjective and Objective Characteristics on Community Satisfaction—A Case Study of Suburbs of Shanghai. Progress in Geography 2019, 38 (05), 686-697. [15] Yun, Y.; Zhao, H.; Xiong, R.; et al. Study on the Relationship between Perception of Mountain Urban Public Transport Service and Travel Happiness—Based on the Moderating Effect of Sense of Acquisition. Journal of Guizhou Normal University (Natural Science Edition) 2024, 1-10. [16] Guo, Z.Y. Bailian Group: Strategies for Building a Community Commercial Ecosystem in Shanghai's 15-Minute Convenient Living Circle. Shanghai State-owned Assets 2022, (04), 79-82.