The Effects of Social Capital, the Sharing Economy, and Mutual Support on the Co-housing Intentions of Elderly Groups—Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

The aging of the population and low birth rates are two major social issues worldwide and are particularly prominent in Taiwan. Co-housing, which has been implemented in Europe, the USA, and Japan for several years, is often regarded as a solution for housing elderly groups. This study integrated the theory of planned behavior with three variables—social capital, the sharing economy, and mutual support—to explore the co-housing intentions of elderly groups. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The questionnaire survey method was employed for data collection, and 335 responses were recovered. The empirical results indicated that social capital and the sharing economy indirectly and significantly affect co-housing intentions, with attitudes serving as a mediator variable. Furthermore, perceived behavioral control had a significant positive effect on co-housing intentions. The results imply that social capital and the sharing economy are important determinants in the decisions of elderly groups regarding whether to co-live with younger generations.