Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences Department of Geography and Urban and Regional Planning
2 Professor, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences Department of Geography and Urban and Regional Planning
3 PhD student, Faculty of Planning and Environmental Sciences Department of Geography and Urban and Regional Planning
Abstract
informal settlement neighborhoods have emerged as a direct consequence of the instability in urban development and the inability of housing policies to meet the needs of low-income and vulnerable groups. These neighborhoods, often lacking proper planning and adequate investment, face numerous challenges including informal employment, social isolation, insufficient access to basic services, and low living standards. Among these issues, the sense of place attachment among residents can play a decisive role in either mitigating or exacerbating social and economic vulnerabilities. The main objective of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the relationship between different dimensions of place attachment (including physical, social, and psychological dimensions) and the level of socio-economic vulnerabilities in selected marginal neighborhoods of Tabriz city. The research method was descriptive-correlational with an applied purpose. The statistical population consisted of all residents over 15 years old in the selected marginal neighborhoods of Tabriz, from which a sample of 384 individuals was chosen using cluster sampling. Data collection tools included two researcher-made questionnaires: one measuring socio-economic vulnerabilities and the other assessing place attachment. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software through Pearson correlation and multiple regression tests. The findings revealed a significant statistical relationship between the dimensions of place attachment and the level of existing vulnerabilities in the neighborhoods. Specifically, the physical-spatial dimension had the greatest impact (β=0.543), while the psychological dimension had the least (β=0.109). Overall, these three dimensions explained about 73% of the variance in socio-economic vulnerabilities. The general conclusion of the study indicates that strengthening and enhancing the sense of place attachment among residents, particularly through the physical dimension of space, can serve as an effective strategy for reducing socio-economic vulnerabilities. It also underscores the necessity of serious attention to these identity-related components in future planning aimed at empowering and organizing such neighborhoods.
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