How residents in multifamily housing cope with neighbour noise: The role of attitude towards the neighbours

AIMS: Residents in multifamily housing are considerably exposed to neighbour noise, which can lead to neighbour disputes and even criminal violence. This study investigated how residents' attitudes towards noisy neighbours develop and the role of such attitudes in their reactions to neighbour noise. METHODS: In-depth interviews were carried out with 57 South Korean residents. The data were collected and analyzed using grounded theory methods. Concepts and categories were identified through open coding and axial coding, respectively. RESULTS: Residents' attitudes towards the neighbours (i.e., noise source) were grouped into friends, enemies, and strangers/acquaintances. Each attitude formation was influenced by the individual's past experience/history, the attitude shown by the neighbours, and the predictability/certainty of noise exposure. Different attitudes towards the neighbours resulted in different cognitive and behavioural copings. CONCLUSION: Given that the neighbour noise issue involves the interpersonal relationship between neighbours, the findings extend the scope of existing understanding. The paper suggests that further investigation into coping strategies would have practical implementations for reducing conflict arising from neighbour disputes.