Assessing Quality of Life Dimensions in Deteriorated Inner Areas: A case from Javadieh Neighborhood in Tehran Metropolis

Abstract

Quality of life is a noticeable concept in urban deteriorated areas where people suffer from multidimensional and complex problems. According to Tehran Renovation Organization (TRO), a deteriorated area is defined just by three physical indicators of fine grain, lack of permeability and lack of durability. But deteriorated areas suffer from other physical as well as socio economic problems which need to be considered in planning processes. Consequently, assessing the QOL in deteriorated inner areas is the main purpose of this paper to survey the overall life satisfaction, to extract main and different aspects of QOL and to determine the extent that overall life satisfaction is explained by different components of life. Javadieh neighbourhood, located in Tehran metropolis, one of the most deteriorated neighbourhoods in the city has been chosen as a case for this study. Forty nine indicators which cover different dimensions of quality of life have been selected through literature review. Multi-stage sampling technique for sampling has been applied. In first stage by application of Cochran sampling method, the required sample size has been determined. Then by use of systematic sampling method, questionnaires have been distributed among the residents of the neighbourhood. After data collection, a confirmatory factors analysis indentified 11 factors as identical components of QOL. A stepwise regression is performed to investigate the overall life satisfaction and the extent that QOL is determined by identified domains. Results show that traffic, mobility, housing and infrastructure are the most important aspects of QOL which affect the overall life satisfaction of the residents of the surveyed deteriorated neighbourhood. Also a negative relationship was found between overall satisfaction and private life. The findings of the study also show that the three physical indicators used by the TRO for identifying the deteriorated areas are not adequate to address the deterioration issues. Other physical and socio economic aspects which are incorporated with different QOL dimensions also affect the overall life satisfaction, which have to be addressed in planning and policy making to upgrade quality of life for people in deteriorated neighbourhoods.