Urban Economics and Planning

Urban Economics and Planning

Explaining the Model of the Impact of Urban Livability Factors on Urban Health Factors in the Metropolis of Tabriz (Case Study: District 5 of Tabriz)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Naser Esmaeilzadeh-ye Farid 1
Reza Valizadeh 2
Hassan Ahmadzadeh 3
1 Ph.D Candidate in Geography and Urban Planning, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
10.22034/uep.2025.505285.1595
Abstract
Introduction 
Public health outcomes are greatly shaped by how the built environment is planned and designed. Urban planning and public health are connected because urban development has persistently adapted to overcome health-related problems and security threats. Health is a basic requirement for human society because well-being depends on health, and health depends on well-being. Achieving sustainable development is a primary goal of urban health initiatives and enhances urban tranquility. A sustainable city provides essential services, including human health support and social well-being, alongside green infrastructure development and quality of life enhancement through social equity and justice while ensuring public participation and healthcare availability, housing solutions, transportation systems, employment options, and energy and water resources. Economic conditions stand as a vital determinant for the livability of urban areas. Economic stability enables people to fulfill their basic needs easily, which results in a better quality of life and increased life expectancy. The expansion of urban areas has caused city centers to become densely populated, creating substantial economic, social, and environmental difficulties. Strategic planning and policymaking depend on identifying urban livability determinants because they establish the groundwork for a better quality of life and sustainable urban development. A detailed analysis of Tabriz demonstrates multiple ways the city falls short of sustainable urban standards. The city currently deals with substantial obstacles, including unemployment, limited job opportunities, and poor housing conditions, as well as serious air pollution problems together with widespread informal settlements and a mismatch between population size and urban infrastructure capabilities along with erratic land-use changes plus unequal access to urban services throughout various districts. Even though the United Nations honored Tabriz as Iran’s most developed and beautiful city in 2012, the city still faces urban difficulties, especially in District 5. The well-being of urban residents requires evaluation because of several challenges, including dense populations in new residential areas and nearby workshops, as well as environmental and structural problems in older neighborhoods and annexed villages, which also cause social identity decline.
Materials and Methods
The research objective of this study is to build a model that demonstrates how urban livability affects health and well-being among residents of District 5 in Tabriz. The research methodology involves survey implementation through an instrument created by researchers. The research methodology integrates descriptive-analytical elements and exploratory procedures to achieve specific objectives. The study targets residents of District 5 in Tabriz and includes 400 participants determined by Cochran’s formula, which is then adjusted to obtain accurate results. The researchers analyzed data with SPSS 26 and SMART PLS 3 software. The research includes independent urban livability variables and dependent physical and mental well-being variables to study how urban livability affects public health.
Findings
According to research findings, urban livability factors play a crucial role in boosting public health and well-being. Path analysis demonstrates that urban livability factors exert a 95% influence on physical and mental health indicators. The research recognizes a robust positive connection between urban livability and urban well-being through a path coefficient of 0.95, demonstrating a significant influence. When urban livability factors improve, they create significant positive changes in urban well-being.
Research findings demonstrate that economic stability is critical to financial and psychological wellness. High-quality urban infrastructure and services make essential health resources more accessible while lowering residents’ stress levels. When people engage socially and build cohesive communities, they create feelings of security and belonging, strengthening essential mental health support networks. The quality of urban environmental maintenance significantly influences physical and mental health through pollution reduction and green space enhancement. Through effective urban governance, cities build public trust while achieving sustainable development and enhancing their capacity to withstand crises and unexpected disruptions. The combination of interconnected elements produces a dynamic urban environment that promotes public health. The distinct difficulties present in Iranian cities, especially Tabriz, call for an all-encompassing integrated strategy to manage their escalating complexities. Research in various settings demonstrates that environmental challenges, along with social and economic problems, make sustainable urban development a critical priority.
Conclusion
The planning work of urban planners plays a crucial role in determining public health outcomes. Urban health initiatives focus on sustainable development to create healthy, livable city environments. The state of environmental health depends on socioeconomic characteristics that strongly connect to urban livability. The essence of livability in cities stands as their ability to sustain high-quality living standards, which impacts residents in multiple aspects, including physical and social conditions as well as economic and psychological states. Economic elements are essential components of urban livability because they influence multiple elements of city living. The research results show urban livability factors possess a strong explanatory power, as evidenced by a path coefficient of 0.95, which demonstrates that urban livability conditions account for 95% of mental health variation. Statistical analysis establishes that the model holds significance at the 99% confidence level. Key aspects that affect urban well-being consist of citizen participation, sustainable urban planning development practices, healthcare service accessibility, and quality measures, along with high-speed internet availability and municipal urban service delivery effectiveness.
The outcome of these studies shows that building livable cities demands attention to urban economic conditions and infrastructure alongside community ties and environmental health while ensuring good governance. The primary policy goals focus on advancing economic growth and sustainable infrastructure development while building stronger community involvement and social unity with better environmental standards, more transparent and efficient city governance systems, and enhanced disaster resilience capabilities.
Keywords
District 5 of Tabriz
Mental and Physical Well-Being
Urban Health
Urban Liveability

Subjects

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Urban Economics and Planning
Volume 6, Issue 1
Winter 2025
Pages 144-161

  • Receive Date 08 February 2025
  • Revise Date 14 March 2025
  • Accept Date 07 April 2025