The Impact of Environmental Components on Enhancing Social Skills of Children with Autism in Architectural Spaces (Case Study: Autism Education Centers in Tabriz)

Velayati, Shiva; Rezaei Tabrizi, Sevil; Yarahmadi, Pedram

doi:10.22034/jprd.2025.63773.1128

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor University Collage Of Nabi Akram

² Graduated from the Master of Architecture of Nabi Akram Institute of Higher Education

10.22034/jprd.2025.63773.1128

Abstract

Autism is a developmental spectrum disorder that alters sensory processing and social interactions. This study investigates the impact of environmental components in architectural spaces particularly educational and therapeutic environments on enhancing the social skills of children with autism. The main objective is to identify those environmental factors most strongly correlated with social skill indicators, including play therapy, art therapy, individual and group activities, and participation in social spaces. The research employs a descriptive–analytical method. Data were collected through a 38-item questionnaire administered to instructors across three autism education centers in Tabriz (Pouyesh, Raha, and Autism House). Content validity was confirmed by expert judgment, and the reliability of the questionnaire was verified with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.87. Data analysis was conducted using correlation tests (Spearman and Pearson) in SPSS.Findings revealed that components such as color schemes, textures and materials, greenery and natural elements, natural lighting, spatial flexibility, acoustic quality, personal space and privacy, safety, and spatial legibility, respectively, exert the greatest influence on social skill indicators. The results underscore the necessity of integrating sensory-sensitive design principles and therapeutic-oriented design strategies into educational and urban spaces.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Urban Design

Full Text

اوتیسم یک اختلال طیفِ رشدی است که پردازش حسی و تعاملات اجتماعی را دستخوش تغییر می‌سازد. این پژوهش به بررسی تأثیر مؤلفه‌های محیطیِ فضاهای معماری به‌ویژه در محیط‌های آموزشی/ درمانی بر ارتقای مهارت‌های اجتماعی کودکان مبتلا به اوتیسم می‌پردازد. هدف اصلی تعیین آن دسته از مؤلفه‌های محیطی است که بیشترین همبستگی را با شاخص‌های مهارتی اجتماعی شامل بازی‌درمانی، هنردرمانی، فعالیت‌های فردی و جمعی و حضور در فضاهای اجتماعی نشان می‌دهند. روش تحقیق توصیفی ـ تحلیلی است؛ داده‌ها از طریق پرسشنامه‌ای ۳۸ سوالی میان مربیان سه مرکز آموزشی اوتیسم در تبریز جمع‌آوری شد. روایی محتوا با نظرخبرگان و پایایی پرسشنامه با آلفای کرونباخ 87/0 تأیید گردید. تحلیل داده‌ها با استفاده از آزمون‌های همبستگی (اسپیرمن و پیرسون) در نرم‌افزار SPSS انجام شد. یافته‌ها نشان دادند که مؤلفه‌هایی همچون رنگ‌، بافت و مصالح، فضای سبز و طبیعت، نور طبیعی، انعطاف‌پذیری فضا، آکوستیک مناسب، حریم و فضای شخصی، ایمنی و خوانایی فضا به ترتیب بیشترین تأثیر را بر ارتقای مهارت‌های اجتماعی از طریق مکانیسم‌های واسطه‌ای و رفتارهای تعاملی دارند. نتایج پژوهش بر ضرورت تلفیق اصول طراحی معمارانه حساس‌به‌حواسو طراحی درمان‌محور در فضاهای آموزشی و شهری تاکید دارد.

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The Impact of Environmental Components on Enhancing Social Skills of Children with Autism in Architectural Spaces (Case Study: Autism Education Centers in Tabriz)

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Volume 4, Issue 15February 2026Pages 115-104

Volume 4, Issue 15
February 2026
Pages 115-104