Investigating the relationship between housing satisfaction and quality of life in the decayed historic areas of Isfahan using path diagram

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to survey the decayed historic areas of Isfahan (DHI) in order to determine the relationship between housing satisfaction and quality of life. The related literature on quality of life was reviewed and WHOQOL-BREF model was selected for measuring the quality of life as a whole; also, 17 indicators depicting the housing domain of quality of life were chosen for the purposes of this study. A multi-stage sampling technique was applied to data collection. For data analysis, firstly, the data obtained on 17 indicators of housing domain of quality of life were analysed using factor analysis. The factors extracted are housing quality, housing space, security of tenure and housing affiliation. Secondly, a path diagram was applied to obtain the relation between housing satisfaction sub-domains and the domains of quality of life as a whole. The results indicate that the housing space was the most effective sub-domain of housing on the domains of quality of life as a whole. We also found that in order to improve the housing domain of quality of life in the DHI, due attention should be paid to housing quality factor and to improve quality of life as a whole in these areas, it is also necessary to pay attention to housing space factor.