International Journal of Nonlinear Analysis and Applications
Structural equation modeling (SEM) the relationship between environmental quality and social cohesion components by explaining the mediating role of social resilience in urban cultural spaces
Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Architecture, Tabriz branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
The quantity and quality of urban cultural spaces are one of the most critical factors in the cultural development of any society. Social cohesion is a set of relationships, a coherent and organized link between group members, which originates from shared value systems and norms, collective belonging, and interaction between them. In this respect, the current research was carried out to illuminate the impact of environmental quality components on social cohesion by explaining the mediating role of social resilience in urban cultural spaces. The present study is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive survey in data collection. The research population comprised all the users of urban cultural spaces in Tabriz, from which a sample of 193 users of Al-Ghadir and 29 Bahman cultural centers was selected by simple random sampling. The data collection instruments were researcher-made questionnaires on the components of environmental quality, social cohesion, and social resilience. The validity of the questionnaires was established through face validity and content validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to determine reliability. In order to test the hypotheses, the structural equation method was used using SmartPLS software. The results of data analysis show that physical and structural components have a significant positive effect on social cohesion $ (P<0.01) $ and social resilience $ (P<0.001) $. The activity component significantly positively affects social cohesion $ (P<0.05) $. However, its effect on social resilience was not confirmed. Furthermore, the ecosystem component has a significant positive effect on social resilience $ (P<0.001) $, but its effect on social cohesion was not confirmed. Finally, according to the results of social resilience, it mediates the relationship between the physical and structural component and the ecosystem component with social cohesion; the mediation effect was more significant in the relationship between the physical and structural component with social cohesion.
Keywords
[1] S. Acket, M. Borsenberger, P. Dickes and F. Sarracino, Measuring and validating social cohesion: A bottum-Up approach, Fonds Nat. Recherche, CEPS/Instead Working Paper 8 (2011) 1–31.
[2] M. Afaqzadeh, Urban design with a cultural approach, Master’s Thesis, Urban Design, Shahid Beheshti University, 2014.
[3] N. Ahangaran, Achieving social cohesion in urban areas with an emphasis on connection and articulation of the
physical and spatial elements of the context, Master’s Thesis of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Tehran. 2013.
[4] M. Alimardani and Z. Ziaratizadeh, Investigating social cohesion and the factors affecting it in urban spaces, 3rd Nat. Conf. Architect. Sustain. City Tehran, Shahid Rajaei University-Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning. 2016.
[5] E. Bacon, Designing cities, Iranian Urban Development and Architecture Research Study Center, Shahidi, 2015.
[6] R.G. Barker, Ecological psychology, Stanford, Ca: Stanford University Press, 1968.
[7] T. Bottomore and W. Outhwaite, Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Social Thought, translated by Chavoshian, Hassan, Ney Publishing, Tehran, 2016.
[8] M. Carmona, T. Heath, S. Tiesdell and O. Taner, Public places urban spaces the dimensions of urban design, Honar University Publications, 2012.
[9] L. Chawla, K. Keena, I. Pevec and E. Stanley, Green schoolyards as havens from stress and resources for resilience in childhood and adolescence, Health Place. 28 (2014) 1–13.
[10] S. Chehrazi, Urban space, Third Nat. Conf. Bus. Manag. First Int. Conf. Account. Resil. Econ., Hamedan, Ekbatan Research Group, Hamadan Technical and Vocational Trainign Office, 2014.
[11] L. Chelleri and M. Olazabal, Multidisciplinary perspectives on urban resilience, Basque Centerfor Climate Change, Spain, 2012.
[12] J. Cortesao, S. Lenzholzer, L. Klok, C. Jacobs and J. Kluck, Generating applicable urban design knowledge, J. Urban Design. 25 (2020), no. 3, 293–307.
[13] J.M. Cramm, H.M. Van Dijk and A.P. Nieboer, The importance of neighborhood social cohesion and social capital for the wellbeing of older adults in the community, Gerontologist. 53 (2013), 142–152.
[14] H. Dalakeh, H. Samareh Mohsen Beigi and A. Shahivandi, Measuring the level of social resilience in urban areas of Isfahan, Socio. Soc. Instit. 4 (2016), no. 9, 227–252.
[15] G. Daneshgarmoghaddam, S.H. Bahrainy and A. Einifar, An investigation on sociability of the spaces based on perception of nature in the built environment, HONAR-HAYE-ZIBA J. 3 (2011), no. 45, 27–38.
[16] S.A.H. Daneshpour and M. Charkhchian, Public spaces and factors affecting collective life, Bagh Nazar. 4 (2014), no. 7, 19–28.
[17] F. Fallah Hosseini and M.S. Saraei, Comparative study on the effect of social features on the level of social cohesion in old and new neighborhoods of Yazd (case study: Posht Bagh and the first phase of Azadshahr), Urban Social Geography, 2018.
[18] C. Forgaci and A. Van Timmeren, Urban form and fitness: Towards a space-morphological approach to general urban resilience, 20th Ann. Int. Sustain. Dev. Res. Conf. Resil. New Res. Front., Trondheim, Norway, 2014, pp. 18-20.
[19] J. Gehl, Cities for people, Washington, DC: Island Press, 2010.
[20] S. Ghaed Rahmati, R. Ali, M. Hashemi, S. Zehi and F. Javan, Investigating components influencing promotion of social interactions in urban parks (case study: Zabol city), Human Geog. Res. 49 (2016), no. 4, 901–915.
[21] J. Gould and W. Kolb, Social science culture, Maziar Publications, Tehran, 2012.
[22] K. Hosseinzadeh Dalir, M. Mohammadian and R. Sardari, An overview of the concept of urban resilience, Urban Design Stud. Urban Res. 2 (2018).
[23] Sh. Izadi and E. Ghorbani Nia, Investigating and qualitative role of recreational cultural spaces as a public space in order to strengthen and improve the level of social interactions, Int. Confe. Civil Architect. Urban Dev. Begin. Third Millennium,. 2014.
[24] V. Jennings and O. Bamkole, The relationship between social cohesion and urban green space: an avenue for health promotion, Int. J. Envir. Res. Public Health. 16 (2019), no. 3.
[25] M. Keck and P. Sakdapolark, What is social resilience? Lessins learned and ways forward, Sci. Geog. 67 (2013), no. 1, 5–19.
[26] Gh. Khaki, Research method with thesis writing approach, Fujian Publishing. 2014.
[27] B. Lucini, Social capital and sociological resilience in megacities context, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy, Int. J. Disaster Resil. Built Envir. 4 (2013), no. 1, 58–71.
[28] M. Levasseur, M. Genereux, J.F. Bruneau, A. Vanasse, E. Chabot, C. Beaulac and M.M. Bedard, Importance of proximity to resources, social support, transportation and neighborhood security for mobility and social participation in older adults: results from a scoping study, BMC Public Health. 15 (2015).
[29] B. Liang and Q. Weng, Assessing Urban Environmental Quality Change of Indianapolis, United States, by the Remote Sensing and GIS Integration, IEEE J. Select. Topics Appl. Observ. Remote Sens. 4 (2001), no. 1.
[30] S. Mahdinezhad and Sh. Shaghaghi, Restoring identity and vitality to the Golestan block of Tabriz according to historical records, Third Int. Conf. Appl. Res. Civil Engin. Architect. Urban Manag., Tehran, Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology, 2014.
[31] D. Martinelli, C. Gian Paolo, T. Vesna and M. Stephen, Analysis of economic resiliency of communities affected by natural disasters: the bay area case study, 4th Int. Conf. Build. Resil. Econ. Finance, 2014, pp. 959–968.
[32] L. McCall, The complexity of intersectionality, Signs. 30 (2005), no. 3, 1771–1800.
[33] A. Meshkini, S. Moazzen and M. Nowruzi, Measuring the quality of urban environment in small cities of East Azarbaijan province, Biann. Sci. Res. J. Urban Ecology Res. 6 (2014), no. 12, 17–32.
[34] G.H. Memarian and A. Sadoughi, Application of access graphs and home culture: examining factors relative to climate and privacy in Iranian houses, Sci. Res. Essays 6 (2011), no. 30, 6350–6363.
[35] M. Mirgholami, M. Gharebaglou and N. Noorzamani, Evaluating the impact of social and physical dimensions of the neighborhood environment on the mental health and well-being of residents (case study: Roshdiyeh neighborhood of Tabriz), J. Fine Arts - Architect. Urban. 22 (2016), no. 2, 63–74.
[36] M. Mohammadi and M. Ayatollah, Effective factors in promoting sociability of cultural buildings; case study: farshchian cultural academy in Isfahan, J. Architect. Urban Plan. 8 (2015), no. 15, 79–96
[37] W. Moleski and J. Lang, Organizational Goals and Human Needs in Offce Planning. in Jean D. Wineman Ed), Behavioral Issues in Offce Design, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1986.
[38] U. Moradian, M. Rakhshandeh Rou and A. Abdulahzadeh Fard, Evaluating the role of urban parks in the social sustainability of cities, case study Azadi Park, Shiraz, Sci. Res. Quart. Res. Urban Plan. 10 (2018), no. 37, 113–128.
[39] M. Motovaseli and H. Zibri, Social cohesion; The source of economic growth, Rural Dev. 5 (2013), no. 2, 23–45.
[40] M. Navabakhsh and A. Firouzabadi, Urban social cohesion and its related factors in Kermanshah city, Nat. Stud.ies J. 4 (2013), no. 12.
[41] E. Poll, The theoretical backgrond of the city identity sustainability network, Envir. Behav. 34 (2002), 8–25.
[42] C. Psalar, The effects of spatial layout on student intraction in middle school: multiple case analysis, Unpublished Thesis for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of North Carolina State University, 2003.
[43] M. Radfar and T. Nasr, The role of social and physical indices of urban public spaces in improving the social security of citizens, Second Nat. Conf. Architect. Civil Engin. Modern Urban Plan., Urmia, National Center of Trade Unions of Architects of Iran, 2014.
[44] R. Roggema, Contemporary urban design thinking, Digitally watermarked. 2019.
[45] R. Rosenfeld, F. Messner and E. Baumer, Social Capital and Homicide, Social Forces. 80 (2001), no. 1, 286–309.
[46] R. Safari Shali, A guide to develop the research plan, Publication of Society and Culture, 2013.
[47] E.M. Swierad and T.T.K. Huang, An exploration of psychosocial pathways of parks’ effects on health: a qualitative study, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health. 15 (2018).
[48] R. Zare Fard and A. Qholizadeh, Needs assessment for the development of cultural spaces in Shiraz, J. New Urban Manag. 2 (2014), no. 6, 89–112.
[49] S. Wang, Y. Zhang, Y. Xu and S.F. Yan, A quantitative analysis of inequality of urban cultural space distribution in Xi’an, Sci. China Technol. Sci. 62 (2019). 502–510.
[50] W. Whyte, Social life of small space: conservation foundation, Published by Project for Public Space in 2001, Washington DC, 1980.
[51] F. Zamani Kharazi Tous and E. Asgharpour Masouleh, The impact of social and physical features of urban space on social cohesion in residential complexes (case study of high-rise apartment complexes in New City), 6th Nat. Conf. Urban Plann. Manag. Emphasis Elements of Islamic City, 2013.
)
Volume 14, Issue 9
September 2023Pages 153-167
- Receive Date: 07 April 2022
- Revise Date: 07 May 2022
- Accept Date: 17 July 2022