A Study on the Influence of PCCS Tone–Perceptual Congruence on Residential Satisfaction in Chinese Youth Apartments - Focusing on the Youth Group in Zhengzhou, Henan Province

This study analyzes how interior tone design in youth apartments influences residential satisfaction and residential choice in Zhengzhou, China. Grounded in the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) model and the Practical Color Coordinate System (PCCS), it introduces perceived congruence as a mediator to clarify the multidimensional pathway from PCCS tone stimuli to emotional appraisal and decision making. Typical youth-apartment PCCS tone schemes were generated using the PCCS system and evaluated by young renters (N=163). Measures covered four dimensions of perceived congruence—personal aesthetics, functional requirements, cultural identity, and self-identity. Structural equation modeling with bootstrap mediation tested model fit and indirect effects along the S-O-R pathway. All four PCCS tone groups were positively associated with residential satisfaction and residential choice, with bright tones showing the strongest impact. Indirect effects were evident across all con-gruence dimensions, with variations reflecting tone-specific psychological mechanisms. Overall model fit was acceptable. The findings extend S-O-R applications in environmental design by specifying how tone operates through perceived congruence among Zhengzhou youth renters. Practically, they suggest bright/neutral base palettes with small-area accents and replaceable décor to support self-expression, while exercising caution with large, highly saturated applications. The single-city, cross-sectional design is a key limitation and invites multi-city and longitudinal replications.