تحلیل و آسیب‌شناسی بر مسائل اجتماعی مناطق مهاجر و بومی‌نشین شهر گرگان

A B S T R A C T
With the advancement of social sciences in Iran and the growth of sociology with an urban studies approach, a suitable foundation has been established for examining and analyzing complex social and urban issues. Among the most important and frequently discussed issues is the phenomenon of social harm, which, due to its multidimensional nature, is recognized both as a consequence and a contributing factor to other forms of dysfunction in urban society. Social harms such as addiction, unemployment, marginalization, divorce, delinquency, and poverty are not only outcomes of structural problems but also act as catalysts for secondary issues within the community. One of the factors that has intensified these harms in recent decades is the rise in internal migration—especially labor migration. This research, using a fieldwork-based approach, focuses on the impact of labor migration on the emergence of social harms in Gorgan, one of the most migration-prone cities in Iran. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using statistical tests such as Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results show that among immigrants, due to a noticeable weakness in their social, economic, and cultural status, the level of social harms is significantly higher compared to native residents. In conclusion, the study offers recommendations to strengthen urban planning, develop targeted social services, and enhance the social resilience of immigrant communities.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Cities play a crucial role as hubs of population concentration, economic activity, and cultural interaction. With increasing internal and external migration to urban areas, immigrant neighborhoods have formed alongside native-born neighborhoods, exhibiting significant differences in social, economic conditions, and social harms. Understanding these differences is vital for urban policy-making and improving residents’ living conditions. This study investigates the socioeconomic disparities and the extent of social harms between native and immigrant neighborhoods in the city of Gorgan.
Urban and social studies highlight that migration and social cohesion in immigrant neighborhoods, especially in developing cities, present specific challenges. Sociological urban theories such as social division of labor, urban inequality, and social deviance provide a suitable framework for analyzing the data. Previous research indicates that immigrant neighborhoods face more social problems such as unemployment, poverty, crime, and insecurity, often linked to poor economic conditions and weak support networks.
 
Methodology
The present study is of an applied type and its research method, which is based on case study, is descriptive-analytical. In this regard, with the aim of studying and investigating the extent of harm and existing social issues from the perspective of citizens of immigrant and indigenous areas of Gorgan city (research area), first, using library studies, the theoretical foundations related to the subject were reviewed, and then, in order to obtain the required data from citizens, a field survey method was used, so that 322 questionnaires based on the Cochran model were randomly distributed and completed among the statistical population under study in each of the regions during 3 months of the summer of 1403. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to measure the reliability of the instrument and the internal consistency of the questions. This coefficient was obtained in the measures of social harm, parent-child relationships, and quality of leisure time as 0.86, 0.78, and 0.88, respectively, which indicates acceptable reliability. Validity and Reliability The content of the questionnaire has also been approved by professors, experts, and specialists. Finally, the current situation of the region in terms of various social harms has been described using SPSS software and Pearson, t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests to analyze the data obtained.
 
Results and discussion
Results reveal that immigrant neighborhoods have lower economic indicators, higher unemployment rates, and lower education levels compared to native neighborhoods. The incidence of social harms such as crime, addiction, and insecurity is significantly higher in immigrant areas. The findings highlight a considerable social and economic gap between the two groups, related to cultural, economic, and structural factors. Social networks and support systems were found to be stronger in native neighborhoods, potentially contributing to lower social harms there. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that immigrants in Gorgan face worse socioeconomic conditions than natives, leading to increased social harms. Urban policymakers should design comprehensive and targeted programs to improve employment, education, social services, and security in immigrant neighborhoods to enhance their quality of life. Additionally, strengthening social cohesion and support networks is crucial. Future studies may explore psychological and cultural factors influencing these disparities more deeply
 
Conclusion
The results of this study indicate that there is a negative relationship between parent-child relationships and the quality of leisure time with the tendency to social harm. The results of the questionnaire analysis indicate that about 73 percent of immigrant families living in Gorgan city stated financial constraints as the main obstacle to the low quality of their family's leisure time. In fact, the high cost of living and the lack of sufficient income in recent years have caused family members of urban immigrants in Gorgan to participate in several shifts and different jobs in order to provide for themselves and their families, which is why they do not pay much attention to the quality of their leisure time. Other findings of this study include the difference in the tendency to social harm among groups with different social bases, such that the lower the social base of individuals, the higher the incidence of social harm. Accordingly, issues and problems such as drug addiction and drug sales, conflict and wickedness, moral corruption, etc. are more common in lower social classes.
 
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.