Assessing Neighborhood Satisfaction as a Livability Indicator in a Historic Quarter: Esfanjan Neighborhood, Semnan, Iran

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22100/ijhs.v8i2.892

Keywords:

Livability, Urban Quality of Life, Neighborhood Satisfaction Determinants, Urban Redevelopment, Historic Quarters, Esfanjan Neighborhood

Abstract

Background: Satisfaction with neighborhood environment in historic quarters is a major indicator of livability and urban quality of life in these quarters, yet little research has been conducted on neighborhood satisfaction in historic contexts of Iranian cities. This descriptive-analytical study aimed to evaluate the level of the neighborhood (outdoor living spaces) satisfaction and determinants contribute to it in Esfanjan historic neighborhood, Semnan city, Iran.

Methods: Determinants of neighborhood satisfaction were collected through a comprehensive literature review, organized in a questionnaire form, and distributed among 215 residents of the neighborhood using the convenience sampling method. The Likert scale was used to express satisfaction levels and the Pearson correlation test in SPSS software was used to measure the level of satisfaction and the relationship between influenced factors and neighborhood satisfaction.

Results: The results show that the level of neighborhood satisfaction in the Esfanjan quarter is low and there is a meaningful relationship between all determinant categories and satisfaction. The most significant relationship is related to physical-spatial, functional-structural, socio-cultural, and individual-contextual factors respectively. Among functional-structural factors, maintenance; among physical-spatial factors, quality of access routes; among socio-cultural factors, social interaction and participation; and among individual-contextual factors length of habitation have the strongest correlation with neighborhood satisfaction.

Conclusions: This study reveals the importance of good design as the chief factor that influences neighborhood satisfaction in this historic quarter. It also suggests some measures and strategies achieve a more livable urban environment in Esfanjan historic quarter based on neighborhood satisfaction.

Key words: Livability; Urban Quality of Life; Neighborhood Satisfaction Determinants; Urban Redevelopment; Historic Quarters; Esfanjan Neighborhood

References

1. Erdoğdu G, Sari O. Householder Satisfaction in Apartment Block Neighborhoods: Case of Ankara, Turkey. . Journal of Urban Planning and Development 2018; 144(1): 36-48. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)UP.1943-5444.0000412
2. Mouratidis K . Commute satisfaction, neighborhood satisfaction, and housing satisfaction as predictors of subjective well-being and indicators of urban livability. Travel Behaviour and Society 2020; 21: 265-278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tbs.2020.07.006\
3. Baik O M. The Effects of Residential Satisfaction on the Quality of Life of Aging people: Comparison between the Elderly Living in the Community and the Elderly Living in Senior Housings. International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology 2018; 6 (4): 29-38. DOI https://doi.org /10.17703//IJACT2018.6.4.29
4. Hill T.D, Ross C.E, Angel R.J. Neighborhood disorder, psychophysiological distress, and health. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 2005; 46(2): 170-186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/002214650504600204.
5. Roster C, Ferrari J, Jurkat M.P. The dark side of home: Assessing possession 'clutter' on subjective wellbeing. Journal of Environmental Psychology 2016; 46: 32-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.03.003
6. Zhang Z, Zhang J. Perceived residential environment of neighborhood and subjective well-being among the elderly in China: A mediating role of sense of community, Journal of Environmental Psychology 2017; 51:82-94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.03.004
7. Fernandez-Portero C, Alarcon D, Padura A. Dwelling conditions and life satisfaction of older people through residential satisfaction. Journal of Environmental Psychology 2017; 49: 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.11.003
8. Davoodi T, Dagli U. Exploring the determinants of residential satisfaction in historic urban quarters: towards sustainability of the walled city Famagusta, north Cyprus. Sustainability 2019; 11, 6261 [persian] DOI: 10.3390/su11226261
9. Vehbi B, Hoskara S. A model for measuring the sustainability level of historic urban quarters. Europen Planning Studies 2009; 17(5): 715-736. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654310902778201
10. Jiang, W., Fenga,T., Timmermansa,H., Li,H. : 2018, A gap-theoretical path model of residential satisfaction and intention to move house applied to renovated historical blocks in two Chinese cities, Cities. 71, 19-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2017.06.021
11. Tanrıkul, A., Hoşkara, S. : 2019, A New Framework for the Regeneration Process of Mediterranean Historic City Centres. . Sustainability, 11(16), 111-126. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11164483
12. Campbell, A., Converse, P.E., Rodgers, W.L. : 1976, The quality of American life: perceptions, evaluations and satisfactions. New York: Russell Sage foundation publication.
13. Chen, L., Zhang, W., Yang, Y., Yu, J. : 2013, Disparities in residential environment and satisfaction among urban residents in Dalian, China. Habitat International, 40, 100-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2013.03.002
14. Lu M. Determinants of residential satisfaction: ordered logit vs. regression models. Growth and change 2002; 30(2): 264-287. https://doi.org/10.1111/0017-4815.00113
15. Francescato G. Residential satisfaction research: the case for and against. Residential Environments: choice, satisfaction and behavior 2002; 15-34.
16. Galster G. Identifying the correlates of dwelling satisfaction: An empirical critique. Environment and Behavior 1987; 19(5): 539-548. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916587195001
17. Kearney A. Residential Development Patterns and Neighborhood Satisfaction: Impacts of Density and Nearby Nature. Journal of Environment and Behavior 2006; 38(1): 112-139 . https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916505277607
18. Mohit M, Ibrahim M, Rashid Y. Assessment of residential satisfaction in newly designed public low-cost housing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Habitat International 2010; 34: 17-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2010.04.002
19. Wang D, Wang F. Contributions of the usage of and affective experience of the residential environment to residential satisfaction. Housing Studies 2016; 31(1): 42-60. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2015.1025372
20. Amerigo M, and Aragones J. A Theoretical and Methodological Approach to the Study of Residential Satisfaction. Journal of Environmental Psychology 1997; 17(1): 47–5. https://doi.org/10.1006/jevp.1996.0038
21. Adibi F, Azimi A. Explicating security in urban environments based on physical and design parameters: Babolsar city, Iran. Geographical journal of environmental management 2012; 4 (15): 81-105. [persian]
22. He S, Qi X. Determinants of relocation satisfaction and relocation intention in Chinese cities: An empirical investigation on 3 types of residential neighborhood in Guangzhou. . Residential Environments: choice, satisfaction and behavior 2014; 21-38.
23. Azimi N, Esmaeilzadeh Y. Assessing the relationship between house types and residential satisfaction in Tabriz, Iran. International Journal of Urban Sciences 2017; 21(2): 185-203. [persian]
https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2016.1273128
24. Shin J. Toward a theory of environmental satisfaction and human comfort: a process oriented and contextually sensitive theoretical framework. Journal of environmental psychology 2016; 45: 11-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.11.004
25. Barreira A, Nunes A, Guimarães M, Panagopoulos P. Satisfied but thinking about leaving: the reasons behind residential satisfaction and residential attractiveness in shrinking Portuguese cities. International Journal of Urban Sciences 2019; 23(1): 67-87. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2018.1447390
26. Van K, Irene L, Kess M, Gooitske H. Urban environmental quality and human well-being towards a conceptual framework and demarcation of concepts; a literature study. Journal of Landscape and Urban Planning 2003; 65(1-2): 5-18. DOI :10.1016/S0169-2046(02)00232-3
27. James R. Multifamily housing characteristics and tenant satisfaction. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities 2007; 21(6): 475-780. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3828(2007)21:6(472)
28. Ciorici P, Dantzler P. neighborhood Satisfaction: A Study of a Low-Income Urban Community. Urban affairs review 2018; 55(6): 1702–1730. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078087418755515
29. Hamersma M, Tillema T, Sussman J, Arts J. Residential satisfaction close to highways: The impact of accessibility, nuisances and highway adjustment projects. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. Elsevier 2014; 59(C): 106-121. DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2013.11.004
30. Huang Z, Du X. Assessment and determinants of residential satisfaction with public housing in Hangzhou. Habitat International 2015; 47: 218-230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2015.01.025
31. Honghao R, Folmer H. Determinants of residential satisfaction in urban China: A multi-group structural equation analysis. Urban Studies 2017; 54(6): 1407-1425. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098015627112
32. Yin Y, He Y, Zhang L, ZhaoD. Impact of building environment on residential satisfaction: A case study of Ningbo. Sustainability 2019; 11(4):1197. DOI: 10.3390/su11041197
33. Bonaiuto M, Aiello A, Perugini M, Bonnes M, Ercolani A. Multidimensional Perception of Residential Environment Quality and Neighbourhood Attachment in the Urban Environment. Journal of Environmental Psychology 1999; 19(4):331-352. DOI: 10.1006/jevp.1999.0138
34. Liao F, Farbes S, Ewing R. Compact development and preference heterogeneity in residential location choice behavior: A latent class analysis. Urban Studies 2015; 52(2): 314-337. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098014527138
35. Morris E, Crul S, Winter M. Housing norms, housing satisfaction and the propensity to move. Journal of Marriage and Family 1976; 38(2): 309- 320. DOI: 10.2307/350390
36. Anderson J, Weidman S, Butterfield D. Using residential satisfaction to obtain priorities for housing rehabilitation. Renewal, rehabilitation and maintenance 1983; 1: 141-150. Gavle, Sweden: The national swedish institue for building research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2011.06.003
37. Diaz-Serrano L, Stoyanova A. Mobility and housing satisfaction: An empirical analysis for 12 EU countries. Journal of Economic Geography 2010; 10(5); 661-683.
38. Grillo M, Teixeira M, Wilson D. Residential satisfaction and civic engagement: Understanding the causes of community participation. Social Indicators Research 2010; 97(3): 451-466. DOI: 10.1007/s11205-009-9511-0
39. Ibem E, Aduwo E. Assessment of Residential Satisfaction in Public Housing in Ogun State, Nigeria. Habitat International 2013; 40: 163-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2013.04.001
40. Zainul Abidin N, Abdullah M, Basrah N. Residential satisfaction: Literature review and a conceptual framework. IOP Conference series: Earth and Environmental Science 2019: 385-012040. 4th International Conference on Research Methodology for Built Environment and Engineering. Chulalongkorn University, Malaysia; April 2019. DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/385/1/012040
41. Kroesen M, Miedema H, Vos H, Janssen S, Wee B. Estimation of the effects of aircraft noise on residential satisfaction. Transportation Research Part D Transport and Environment 2010; 15(3): 144-153. DOI:10.1016/j.trd.2009.12.005
42. Balestra C, Sultan J. Home sweet home: The determinants of residential satisfaction and its relation with well-being. OECD Statistics Working Papers. 2013,05
43. Chen N, Hall C, Yu K, Qian C. Environmental satisfaction, residential satisfaction and place attachment: The case of long-term residents in rural and urban areas in China. Sustainability 2019; 11, 6439. DOI: 10.3390/su11226439
44. Parkes A, Kearns A, Atkinson R. What makes people dissatisfied with their neighborhoods?. Urban Studies 2002; 39: 2413-2438. https://doi.org/10.1080/0042098022000027031
45. Chiarazzo V, Coppola P, Dell’Olio L, Ibeas A, Ottomanelli M. The Effect of Environmental Quality on Residential Choice Location. Procedia -Social and Behavioral Sciences 2014; 162: 178-187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.12.198
46. Marcus C, Sarkissian W. Housing as If People Mattered: Site Design Guidelines for Medium Density Family Housing. Berkeley: University of California Press; 1986.
47. Amole D. Residential Satisfaction in Students Housing. Journal of Environmental Psychology 2009; 29(1): 76-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2008.05.006
48. Marans R, Rodgers W., Toward an understanding of community satisfaction. New York: Sage Publications, In: A. Hawley, & V. Rock (Eds.), Metropolitan America in Contemporary Perspective. New York: Halsted Press;1975.
49. Wasserman I. Size of place in relation to community attachment and satisfaction with community services. Social Indicators Research 1982; 11(4): 421 – 436. DOI: 10.1007/BF00323190
50. Grzeskowiak S, Sirgy M, Widgery R. Residents' satisfaction with community services: Predictors and outcomes. Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy 2003; 33(2): 1-36. DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.132251
51. Tian G, Ewing R, Greene W. Desire for smart growth: A survey of residential preferences in the salt lake region of Utah. Housing Policy Debate 2014; 25(3): 446-462. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2014.971333
52. Braubach M. Residential conditions and their impact on residential environment satisfaction and health: Results of the WHO large analysis and review of European housing and health status(LARES) study. International journal of Environment and Pollution 2007; 30(3-4): 384-403. DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2007.014817
53. Adriaanse C. Measuring residential satisfaction: A residential environmental satisfaction scale(RESS), Journal of Housing and the Built Environment 2007; 22(3): 28-304. DOI: 10.1007/s10901-007-9082-9
54. Zanuzdana A, Khan M, KraemerA. Housing satisfaction related to health and importance of services in urban slums: Evidence from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Social Indicators Research 2013; 112: 163-185. DOI: 10.1007/s11205-012-0045-5
55. Mohit M, Azim M. Assessment of Residential Satisfaction with Public Housing in Hulhumale”, Maldives. Social and Behavioral Sciences 2012; 50: 756-770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.08.078
56. Kazemi M, Soheili J. Effects of architectural components on the satisfaction rate of residents with different ages and genders in relation to privacy: A residential complex in Tabriz, Iran. International Journal of Architecture and Urban Development 2019; 9(3): 39-50. [persian]
57. Mohit M, Al-Khanbashi A. Residential satisfaction- concept, theories and empirical studies., Planning Malaysia: Urban planning and local governance 2014; 3: 47-66. DOI: 10.21837/pmjournal.v12.i3.131
58. Van Praag B, Frijters P, Ferrer-I-Carbonell A. The anatomy of subjective well-being. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization 2003; 51(1): 29-49. DOI: 10.1016/S0167-2681(02)00140-3
59. Bruin M, Cook C. Understanding constraints and residential satisfaction among low-income single- parent families. Environment and Behavior 1997; 29(4): 532-553. https://doi.org/10.1177/001391659702900405
60. Bonaiuto M, Fornara F, Ariccio S, Cancellieri U, & Rahimi L. Perceived residential environment quality indicators (PREQIs) relevance for UN-HABITAT City Prosperity Index (CPI). Habitat International 2015; 45(1): 53-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2014.06.015
61. Hourihan K. Context-dependent models of residential satisfaction: An analysis of housing groups in Cork, Ireland. Environment and Behavior 1984;16: 369-393. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916584163004
62. Salleh A. Neighborhood factors in private low-cost housing in Malaysia. Habitat International 2008; 32: 485-493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2008.01.002
63. Galster G, Hesser G. Residential Satisfaction Composition and Contextual Correlates. Environment and Behavior 1981; 13(6): 735-758. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916581136006
64. Mullins D, Reid B, Walkers R. Modernization and change in social housing: The case for an organizational perspective. Public Administration 2001; 79(3): 599-623. DOI: 10.1111/1467-9299.00271
65. Teck-Hong T. Housing satisfaction in medium- and high-cost housing: The case of Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Habitat International. 2012; 63(1): 108-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2011.06.003
66. Kellekci O, Berkoz L. Mass housing: user satisfaction in housing and its environment in Istanbul, Turkey. European Journal of Housing Policy 2006 ; 6: 77-99. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616710600587654
67. Fleury-Bahi G, Felonneau M, Marchand D. Processes of place identification and residential satisfaction. Environment and Behavior 2008; 40(5), 669–682. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-1609.2008.00093.x
68. Smith K, Cohen L, Pooley J. Residential satisfaction, sense of community, belonging and place: Residential satisfaction in a planned community. Riga: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing; 2012.
69. Tiantian G, Dezhi L, Shiyao Z, Yanqing W. Does sponge-style old community renewal lead to a satisfying life for residents? An investigation in Zhenjiang, China. Habitat International 2019; 90: 102004. 10.1016/j.habitatint.2019.102004
70. Oktay D, Rustemli A, Marans R. Neighborhood satisfaction, sense of community, and attachment: Initial findings from Famagusta quality of urban life study. ITU Journal of the faculty of architecture 2009; 6(1): 6-20.
71. Van Poll R. The Perceived Quality of the Urban Residential Environment, A Multi-Attribute Evaluation. (Doctoral Dissertation) Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, University of Groningen; 1997. Retrieved from: https://www.rug.nl/research/portal/publications/
72. Chapman D, Lombard D. Determinants of neighborhood satisfaction in fee-based gated and nongated communities. Urban Affairs Review 2006; 41(6):769-799. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078087406287164
73. Behzadfar M, Ghazizdeh N. Residential Open Space Satisfaction Case studied: selected residential complexes in Tehran. Honar-Ha-Ye-Ziba Memari-Va-Shahrsazi journal 2011; 3(45): 15-24. [persian]
74. Filkins R, Allen J, Cordes S. Predicting community satisfaction among rural residents: An integrative model. Rural Sociology 2000; 65(1):72 – 86. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1549-0831.2000.tb00343.x
75. Vera-Toscano E, Ateca-Amestoy V. The relevance of social interactions on housing satisfaction. Social Indicators Research 2008; 86(2): 257-274. DOI: 10.1007/s11205-007-9107-5
76. Baiden P, Arku G, Luginaah I, Asiedu A. An assessment of residents' housing satisfaction on coping in Accra, Ghana. Journal of Public Health 2011; 19: 29-37. DOI: 10.1007/s10389-010-0348-4
77. Elsinga M, Hoekstra J. Home ownership and housing satisfaction. Journal of Housing and The Built Environment 2005; 20(4): 401-424. DOI: 10.1007/s10901-005-9023-4
78. Barcus H. Urban-rural migration in the USA: An analysis of residential satisfaction. Regional Studies 2004; 38(6): 643-657. https://doi.org/10.1080/003434042000240950
79. Varady D, Walker C, Wang X. Voucher recipient achievement of improved housing conditions in the U.S: Do moving distance and relocation services matter?. Urban Studies 2001; 38(8): 1273-1304. DOI: 10.1080/00420980124918
80. Jaafar M, Hasan N. The determinants of housing satisfaction level: A study on residential development project by penang development corporation (PDC). JURNAL KEMANUSIAAN 2005; 6(2): 14-33.

Downloads

Published

2021-10-10

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Assessing Neighborhood Satisfaction as a Livability Indicator in a Historic Quarter: Esfanjan Neighborhood, Semnan, Iran. (2021). International Journal of Health Studies, 8(2), 13-22. https://doi.org/10.22100/ijhs.v8i2.892