کاوش در سلامت شهری منطقه چهار قم، تأثیر شاخص‌های محیطی بر کیفیت زندگی و رفاه شهروندان

A B S T R A C T
The historical significance and importance of cities and urban life have compelled rulers and thinkers throughout the ages to reflect on both the physical and spiritual dimensions of the city. They have sought to understand the governing principles of urban life, plan accordingly, and propose solutions for urban problems. In this regard, urban health—particularly influenced by environmental quality indicators—has become a critical issue, especially in recent years as urban health challenges have intensified. The growing body of scientific and practical literature in recent years clearly reflects the increased recognition of the importance of urban health by urban planners, managers, and social policymakers. This study is based on both library and field research using a descriptive-analytical and survey methodology. Data was collected through questionnaires and field observations by the author, focusing on District Four as the study area. For data analysis, SPSS version 16 and LISREL software were used. The results of the mean ranks indicate that the best-performing sub-indicator according to citizens is, respectively, physical health, mental health, and lastly, social health. The average rank scores of these sub-indicators are 2.53, 1.95, and 1.52, respectively. Moreover, the comparison of mean ranks shows that the highest average (2.53) pertains to physical health, meaning that this sub-indicator is in a better state compared to the other two in District Four. In fact, the most significant urban health challenge facing the citizens of this district is social health.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
In recent decades, the concept of urban health has gained considerable prominence as a fundamental component of sustainable urban development. Urban health goes beyond the mere physical well-being of individuals; it encompasses psychological, social, and mental dimensions that are heavily influenced by the surrounding urban environment. Among the various urban attributes, environmental, physical, and visual qualities are recognized as critical factors shaping residents' health outcomes. This study aims to explore the role of these three dimensions in shaping urban health within District Four of Qom City—a densely populated and underserved area facing issues such as deteriorating urban fabric, lack of quality public spaces, inadequate service infrastructure, and weak visual identity.
In various scholarly sources, both the internal and external environmental settings are jointly examined and analyzed in relation to human health and quality of life. Accordingly, the quality of indoor environments, alongside outdoor environmental quality, has emerged as a significant concern impacting the physical and mental well-being and overall welfare of residents—particularly within the broader discourse of sustainable development.
Urban environmental quality is inherently a multidimensional concept encompassing the physical, spatial, economic, and social dimensions of the urban environment. This quality can be assessed from multiple perspectives, including urban physical planning, infrastructural conditions, economic impacts, governmental policies, public beliefs, and prevailing social realities.
Many scholars in urban studies regard environmental quality as a core component of overall quality of life. From this perspective, environmental quality represents a subset of life quality and includes all the factors that contribute to human satisfaction with their living environment.
 
 
Methodology
The research employs a descriptive-analytical methodology with a survey-based approach. The statistical population includes residents of District Four, from whom data were collected through simple random sampling. A researcher-made questionnaire was used as the primary data collection tool, with face validity confirmed and internal consistency verified through Cronbach’s alpha. The indicators assessed fall into three main dimensions: physical (e.g., street quality, lighting, service accessibility, and physical safety), environmental (e.g., pollution levels, green coverage, and natural ventilation), and visual (e.g., facade harmony, visual identity, and spatial legibility). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software through regression analysis, correlation tests, and t-tests.
 
Results and discussion
The results indicate that physical and environmental qualities have the most significant impact on residents' perceptions of urban health, while visual quality is strongly correlated with psychological well-being. Residents living in decayed or visually disordered areas reported higher levels of stress, insecurity, and dissatisfaction. Conversely, access to public services, availability of green spaces, and a coherent urban landscape were associated with increased levels of perceived wellness and social comfort. Moreover, findings emphasize the negative effects of spatial inequality, outdated infrastructure, and lack of human-centered design on urban health indicators in the study area.
The study concludes that effective urban planning in marginalized districts must prioritize enhancing environmental and physical qualities, restoring visual coherence, and institutionalizing spatial justice as a guiding principle. Health-oriented urban design, development of high-quality public spaces, integrated environmental management, and visual improvement strategies are proposed as key pathways to improve urban health and foster social capital in District Four of Qom City.
Conclusion
The conclusion of this research from the fourth district of Qom city shows that environmental quality, physical and visual, is considered an important determinant of health in various mental, physical and social dimensions, and medical science also emphasizes the undeniable role of social forces in determining and structuring common disease patterns in each society. It is believed that any successful intervention to improve health and hygiene is impossible without understanding the environmental and spatial conditions. In order to understand the differences between developed and developing countries in paying attention to the issue of urban health affected by environmental factors, it is worth mentioning that currently, continuous studies on the effects of environmental factors on urban health are always considered as one of the influential variables in the development and progress of northern countries. This is an issue that does not have much place in developing countries.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
 We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.