FUNCTIONAL CONGRUENCE, STUDENT SATISFACTION, AND STUDENT HOUSING PREFERENCE

The current study used 5 factors (bedroom, building quality, facilities, and monthly rental) to predict preference for student housing in South Africa. A five-point Likert scale was used for measurement, ranging from 1 (extremely unimportant) to 5 (extremely important). A non-probability convenience sampling was used to collect 542 valid responses through online surveys. SPSS and AMOS version 28 were used for data analysis, and the results showed that bedroom and washroom facilities had positive influence on satisfaction and therefore preference. Overall, functional factors (functional congruence theory) influence preference for student housing. Future studies can incorporate self-congruence factors and categorise students by type of residence in similar studies.