HOUSING DENSITY, MIGRATION AND FAMILY COHESION IN A TRANSITIONAL URBAN CONTEXT: EVIDENCE FROM DISTRICT CHINIOT, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Urban growth may affect family relationship through migration, housing conditions and changing patterns of social interaction. The present study explores migration, housing density, family cohesion and social capital among 300 urban and semi-urban households in District Chiniot, Punjab, Pakistan using a quantitative descriptive-correlational design. The data were collected through a structured face-to-face administered questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = .847) and analyzed using Pearson correlation, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression. Migration had positive association with housing density (r = .31) and negative association with family cohesion (r = −.22). The housing density was negatively related with social capital (r = −.27) and family cohesion (r = −.31). Social capital highlighted a strong positive relationship with family cohesion (r = .58) and family cohesion also differed significantly by housing density, F (2,297) = 14.87, p < .001, η² = .09. Regression results reflected significant effects of housing density (β = .27), migration (β = .19), technology use/modern attitudes (β = .17) and education (β = .15) whereas income was not significant. Findings of the study indicate the relationship between urban residential conditions, migration and family relational outcomes in a medium-sized Pakistani city.