Analysis of the Effects of Housing Quality on Health (Physical and Mental) of Villagers (Case Study: Villages of Shandiz District in Binaloud County)

Document Type : Scientific Articles

Authors

• Tahereh Sadeghloo
• Soudabeh Ahmadi
• Hamideh Mahmoudi

Ferdowsi Uinversity of Mashhad

10.22067/jrrp.v8i3.75497

Abstract

Purpose- Quality and living conditions of humans are heavily reliant on their housing. A suitable shelter will prevent illness and damage to a large extent and plays a crucial role in promoting people's mental and physical condition. This study seeks to analyze and evaluate the effects of improving the quality of housing on promoting the physical and mental health of villagers.
Design/methodology/approach- This is an applied research that adopts a descriptive-analytical method. The main data collection instrument is a questionnaire. The studied area is Shandiz district in Binalud town, Khorasan Razavi Province. The statistical population of this research consists of 11 villages, which according to 2017 Census accommodated 5921 households. The sample size was estimated at n=190 using the Cochran formula with an error of 0.07%. Data gathering tool comprised interview, field questionnaire and observation. The questionnaire items were designed based on a Likert scale. For the analysis of data, descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation test, single sample t-test and regression) were used in the SPSS software. The villages were ranked by WASPAS analysis (the weighing in WASPAS analysis is based on entropy).
Findings- The results of Pearson correlation test showed that the quantitative (0.549), physical (0.513), the socio-cultural (0.505), and the environmental (0.522) dimension were significantly correlated with mental- psychological health. With regard to the physical health, there was only a direct and weak relationship with the physical dimensions (0.149). As for the health variable, the quantitative (0.651), physical (0.623), socio-cultural (0.605) and environmental (0.596) dimensions had a strong direct relationship, meaning that as dimensions of the quality of housing improves, the health of villagers is affected and their physical and mental health is promoted. The results of pathway analysis showed that among independent variables (quantitative, physical, socio-cultural and environmental variables) the quantitative dimension had the highest effect on dependent variable (physical and mental health) with a value of 0.564.
Practical implications- According to the results, improving the quality of housing will promote the mental and psychologic health of villagers.
Originality/value- Selecting a suitable rural housing model can definitely yield positive outcomes for promotion of health standards both in physical and mental dimensions.

Keywords

• rural texture
• psycological and physical health
• house quality
• rural area
• Shandis district

---

References

1. Afrakhteh, H., & Afkar, A.H. (2012). Factors influencing health level of villages (Case study: villages of Shaft Town). Journal of Research and Rural Planning, 1(1), 25-43. [In Persian].

2. Anabestani, A.A., & Behzadi, S. (2013). Measuring the villagers’ health status and individual factors affecting it in the city of Meybod-Yazd. Spatial Planning (Geography), 3 (1), 1-18. [In Persian].

3. Anabestani, A.A., Anzaei, A., & Behzadi, S. (2016). The rural housing pattern affected by socio-cultural changes of villages (case study: Neka City). Quarterly of Space Economics and Rural Development, 5 (2), 21-42. [In Persian].

4. Anabestani, A.A., & Javanshiri, M. (2014). Physical planning of rural settlements in Iran. Bojnord: Jahani Publication. [In Persian].

5. Archer, P., Murie, A., Turkington, R., & Watson, Ch. (2016). Good housing better health. The Academic-Practitioner Partnership, 1-26.

6. Azamati, H. R., & Zarghami, A. (2012). Relationship between residents' health and the quality of neighborhoods: a case study. Journal of Jihad University Institute of Health Sciences, (Payesh), 12 (1), 25-34. [In Persian].

7. Bagheri, M., & Azemati, H.R. (2010). Promotion of the citizens’ mental and physical health by designing urban environment and landscape. Human and Environment Quarterly, 8(4), 83-88. [In Persian].

8. Bani Fatemeh H., Alizadeh Aghdam, M.B., Shahamfar J., & Abdi, B. (2014). Health and its social determinants: study on inequalities of the health status between Tabrizi Citizens. Journal of Applied Sociology, 25(4), 73-89. [In Persian].

9. Bayati, M., Akbarian, R., Kavoussi, Z., & Sadraei Javaheri, A. (2011). Socio- economic determinants of the health in countries to the west of Pacific Ocean: analysis of mixed data. Journal of Social Welfare, 12(47). 111-130. [In Persian].

10. Boshagh M.R., Seydaei, A., & Jomeini, D. (2011). Analyzing social stability of housing in the villages (case study: Azna Village). Journal of District Planning, (5), 1-11. [In Persian].

11. Beyti H. (2012). Position of domestic models in rural constructional planning (case study: Eastern Azarbayjan Province), Biquarterly of Urban Management, 10(29), 115-129. [In Persian].

12. Bokharayi A., Sharbatian, M. H., & Tavafi P. (2015). Sociological study of the relationship between happiness and social health (youths aged 18-30 years in Malayer City). Journal of Welfare Planning and Social Development, 7(25).1-39. [In Persian].

13. Border, P. (2011). Housing and Health. POSTNOTE, (371). 1-4.

14. Emamgholi, A. (2013). Architectural quality of environment and its relation with physiological health. National Conference on Architecture and Urban Planning of Humanism. Ghazvin. Azad Islamic University, Ghazvin Branch. [In Persian].

15. Evans, G. W. (2003). The Built Environment and Mental Health. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 80(4), 536-555.

16. Farahmand, M., Khatami Sarvi, Kh., & Mohammad Hasani, R. (2016). Comparison of social health, decision-making power, communication skills and self-esteem between employed women and housewives in Yazd. Journal of Women and Society, 7 (2), 147-165. [In Persian].

17. Fazelnia, Gh., Taghdisi, A., & Mulla Novrouzi, M. (2014). Investigating effects of housing pattern in village and cities (case study: Mohammad Abad village, Zabol). Journal of Geopolitical Research. 16 (53), 151-172. [In Persian].

18. Fazlali, Z., Pourtaheri, M., & Roknoddin Eftekhari, A.R. (2016). Study of rural housing changes in Mazandaran province. Human Geography Research. 50 (2), 339-354. [In Persian].

19. Feizi, A., Mesrabadi, G., Mohammadian, K., & Agh Atabay, A. (2015). Meta-analysis of psychosocial indicators with mental health. Persian Gulf Biomedical Research Institute’s Bimonthly of South Medicine, 18 (4), 799-786. [In Persian].

20. Fussell a, E. R., & Lowe, S. (2014). The impact of housing displacement on the mental health of low-income parents after Hurricane Katrina. Social Science & Medicine, 113, 137-144.

21. Garousi, S., & Shamsuddini, M. (2014). The impact of environmental quality of residential neighborhoods on the health of residents in Kerman. Journal of Urban Sociological Studies. 4 (12), 51-74. [In Persian].

22. Ghadermarzai, H., Gemini, D., Jamshidi, A.R., & Cheraghi, R. (2013). Spatial inequality analysis of housing indicators in rural areas of Kermanshah Province. Quarterly of Space Economics and Rural Development, 2 (1), 93-113. [In Persian].

23. Ghadiri Masoom, M., Aligholizadeh Firouzjayee, N., & Mehrali Tabar Firouzjayee, M. (2014). Analysis of the health status of mountainous-forest villages and its determinants on the Band Pey County in Babol. Journal of Research and Rural Planning, 3 (8), 51-63. [In Persian].

24. Ghasemi Ardhayi, A., & Rustamalizadeh, V.A. (2012). The impact of rural housing loans on rural life changes. Journal of Housing and Rural Environment, 31 (139), 67-84. [In Persian].

25. Golpaygani, A.A., Khanjani, N., & Zeidabadi, A. (2013). Rural housing plan and its effect on housing health and safety indicators. Journal of Housing and Village Environment, 32 (144), 49-58. [In Persian].

26. Hemmati, M., Sadeghian, H.R., & Sabeti, M. (2013), Public health and its determinants in the field of public law. Biquarterly of Human Rights Studies, 2 (5), 23-47. [In Persian].

27. Hezarjeribi, J., & Mehri, A.A. (2012). Analysis of the relationship between social capital and mental and social health. Social Sciences Quarterly, 19 (59), 42-90. [In Persian].

28. Jahandar Lasheki, S., & Ebrahimzadeh, F. (2015). The effect of nature on mental and psychological health of people residing in high and medium-rise buildings (case study: Chalous city). International Conference on Science and Technology. Tehran, Karin Institute.

29. Journal of Agricultural Development and Rural Development, September. (1991). General Overview of Rural Areas of the Country, 132, 29-31. [In Persian].

30. Keall, M. G Baker, M. Howden-Chapman, Ph. Cunningham, M., & Ormandy, D. (2010). Assessing housing quality and its impact on health, safety and sustainability. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64(9), 765-71.

31. Kim, J. (2010). Neighborhood disadvantage and mental health: The role of neighborhood disorder and social relationships. Social Science Research, 39(2), 260-271.

32. M. Wells, N. D. Harris, D. (2007). Housing quality, psychological distress, and the mediating role of social withdrawal: A longitudinal study of low-income women. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 27(1), 69-78.

33. Mahdavi Adeli, M., Doorkheez, M., & Saeed, R. (2013). The role of architecture and urban design in citizens' mental security. The 5th Conference on Urban Management and Planning. May 2013. [In Persian].

34. Maleki, S., & Sheikhi, H. (2009). The study of the role of social housing indicators in Iranian provinces using the method of combined human development index. Journal of Housing and Rural Environment, 28 (127), 94-107. [In Persian].

35. Mashayekhi, M., Sardoe, M., Amiranipour, M., & Derini, A. (2016). Identifying and prioritizing the factors influencing housing architecture (case study: rural dwellings in Jiroft County). Sixteenth Conference on Housing Development Policies in Iran, October 12, 2016, Faculty of Economics, University of Tehran. [In Persian].

36. Mohammadi, KH. Ahmadi, KH. Fathi Ashtiani, A. Zadfallah, P., & Ebadi, A. (2013). Study of the Dimensions of the Conceptual Framework of Mental Health Indicators. Journal of Behavioral Sciences Research, 11 (5), 484-491. [In Persian].

37. Mohammad nejad, N., & Ahmadi, A.M. (2014). Analysis of socioeconomic factors affecting mental health in Iran. Journal of Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, 2 (2), 126-117. [In Persian].

38. Mohseni Tabrizi, A.R., & Navabakhsh, M.R. (2016). Social health survey of Tehrani citizens and its determinants (case study: district 3 of Tehran). Journal of Social Development Studies of Iran, 8 (4), 111-128. [In Persian].

39. Moradi, G.M., Boostani, D., & Hematifar, M.R. (2012). Study on the relationship between social responsibility and the immigrants’ mental health (case study: Tabas City). Journal of Applied Sociology, 23 (1), 149-170. [In Persian].

40. Matlabi, Q. (2001). Environmental psychology, a modern domain of knowledge in the service of architecture and urban design. Fine Arts Journal. (10), 52-67. [In Persian].

41. Nastaran, M., & Mirza'i, E.A. (2014). Quantitative analysis of factors affecting health for implementing urban and regional planning objectives (case study: Cities of Isfahan Province). Quarterly Journal of Environment, 8 (30), 39-61. [In Persian].

42. Noorbala, A.A. (2011). Socio- psychosocial health and how to improve it. Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology of Iran. 17 (2), 151-156. [In Persian].

43. Oswald, F., & Werner Wahl, H., (2004). Housing and health in later life. Reviews on Environmental Health, 19(3-4), 223-252.

44. Pourgafar Maghfrati, M.R., & Pourramazan, A. (2016). Evaluating the status of social housing Indices (case study: rural districts of Rasht). Journal of Human Settlement Planning Studies, 11 (37), 55-72. [In Persian].

45. Pourmohammadi, M.R. (2015). Housing Planning (3th Ed.). Tehran: SAMT press. [In Persian].

46. Pourtaheri, M., Ruknoddin Eftekhari, A.R., & Abbasi, M. (2012). Evaluation of the rural Guidance Plan on physical development of rural settlements (case study: Nebovat and Khoroun Villages in Evangharb City). Journal of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, 2 (5), 25-36. [In Persian].

47. Raheb, Gh. (2014). Typology of housing formation zones in Iran rural settlements in interaction with environmental factors. Fine Arts and Architecture, 19 (4), 87-100. [In Persian].

48. Rahimi, Gh. R. (2010). The World Health Organization (WHO). Journal of the Paramedical School of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 5 (1). [In Persian].

49. Rezvani, M.R. (2011). Rural development planning in Iran [Fifth Edition]. Qomes. [In Persian].

50. Riyahi, M.A., Verdinia, A.A., & Pourhossein, Z. (2010). The study of the relationship between social support and mental health. Journal of Social Welfare Research, 10 (39), 85-121. [In Persian].

51. Riyahi, V., Hajipour, M., & Khoroghosloo, H. (2015). Spatial analysis of physical quality of rural housing in Iran. Journal of Applied Geosciences Research, 15 (37), 205-220. [In Persian].

52. Sadeghi, R., Zareipour M.A., Akbari, H., & Khan Beigi, M. (2011). Mental health status and its related factors in women referring to health centers. Journal of Health and Care, 13 (4), 1-9.

53. Saegert, S., & Winkel, G. H. (1990). Environmental psychology. Annual Review of Psychology, 41(1), 441-477.‏

54. Safarinia, M. (2011). The impact of different residential environments (villas or apartments) on the young girls’ mental health, happiness and well-being. Journal of Social Psychology Research, 1 (1), 60-73. [In Persian].

55. Saeidi, A. (2010). Basics of rural geography. Tehran: SAMT. [In Persian].

56. Salimi, H., Azad Marzabadi, A., & Abedi Darzi, M. (2010). Study on mental health status and its relationship with burnout and life satisfaction in the staff of a military university. Avicenna Scientific Journal. Health Administration, 13 (4), 4-11. [In Persian].

57. Samiei, M., Rafiee, H., Amini Rarani, M., & Akbarian, M. (2010). Social health of Iran: from an agreed-upon definition to evidence-based index. Journal of Iranian Social Issues, 1 (2), 31-51. [In Persian].

58. Sartipipour, M. (2012). Localism approach in Iranian rural architecture. Quarterly of Space Economics and Rural Development, 1 (2), 129-146. [In Persian].

59. Shafaei, M., & Madani, R. (2011). Explaining research methodology in designing rural housing pattern. Arman Shahr Jounal, 4 (7), 17-30. [In Persian].

60. Tabatabaiyan, M., & Tamannaei, M. (2012). The effect of built environment on mental health. Journal of Arman Shahr Architecture & Urban Development, 6 (11), 101-109. [In Persian].

61. Tajdar, V., Rafiyan, M., & Taghvaei, A.A. (2010). Measurement of health component in Mashhad metropolis from the perspective of urban planning. Fine Arts Journal Architecture and Urban Planning, 2 (41), 101-110. [In Persian].

62. Tothounchi, M., Samani, S., & Zandi Qashqaii, K.A. (2012). The mediating role of self-concept in perfectionism and mental health among Shirazi youths. Journal of Fasa Medical Sciences University, 2 (3), 210-217. [In Persian].

63. Wesali, S., Sam Aram, A.A., Esmaeili Tawil, Y., & Rasouli, Z. (2016). Social determinants of physical health among employees of Tabriz municipality. Journal of Social Welfare Planning, 8 (29), 119-156. [In Persian].

64. Wilkinson, D. (1999). Poor Housing and Ill Health A Summary of Research Evidence. The Scottish Office, Central Research Unit, 1-15.

65. Zargar, A., & Hatami Khaneghahi, T. (2014). Factors Influencing the Design of Rural Homes. Journal of Housing and Rural Environment, 33 (148), 45-62. [In Persian].