Quality of Life Determinants in Spain’s Smart Rural Areas During the Pandemic: A Better Alternative to Urban Living

Abstract

In the context of widespread rural depopulation, recent global developments have sparked shifts in lifestyle preferences, underscoring the often-overlooked benefits of rural living. These changes have prompted many people to consider relocating to rural areas for improved quality of life and more tranquility. This study explores the differences in quality of life between rural and urban environments, analyzing key factors that impact individuals’ perceived well-being within a broader societal context. Focusing on Spain, our research aims to identify the diverse elements influencing social happiness. Using data from a national survey on quality of life for 908 participants, we compared the perspectives of rural and urban residents during the pandemic, revealing a clear attraction effect toward rural areas. Our findings reveal a significant trend toward relocating to rural areas, but only those with good connectivity (smart rural areas). To effectively address rural depopulation and promote these regions, it is crucial to invest in comprehensive connectivity enhancements, including technological advancements, improved infrastructure, and wider availability of services. Methodologically, a comparative analysis approach was applied, using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify differences and regression techniques to determine the influence of various factors on habitat happiness, understood as quality of life in social terms.