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Assessing Resident Satisfaction with the Quality of Residential Environments (Case Study: Baqubah City, Iraq):
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Mostafa Ameer Saeed Al-Abdal jabbar1   , Hossein Nazmfar *2 , Alireza Mohammadi3 , Mohammad Hasan Yazdani3 |
1- PhD Student in Geography and Urban Planning, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
2- Professor of Department of Geography and Urban Planning, University of Tabriz , Tabriz, Iran
3- 3 Professor of Department of Geography and Urban Planning and Rural Planning University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil Iran |
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Abstract: (25 Views) |
Introduction
A major challenge in contemporary architecture and urban planning is the limited attention paid to quality-of-life determinants and the insufficient consideration of the real needs of people and nature in the design and management of living environments. Over time, this neglect contributes to the reproduction of inefficient and repetitive built forms, which can diminish residential satisfaction and ultimately reduce individual and social quality of life. Because quality of life and sustainable development are mutually related, assessing and improving the quality of residential environments can be viewed as part of sustainability’s social dimension; however, it is also shaped by economic, social, and environmental conditions. Housing, therefore, should not be understood merely as a physical shelter; it must also provide adequate services, secure tenure, and appropriate conditions for everyday life. In the housing literature, residential satisfaction is widely used as a key indicator of housing performance, as it captures the gap between residents’ actual living conditions and their desired situation. Baqubah, Iraq, faces serious challenges in residential environmental quality due to war-related impacts, infrastructural deficiencies, and the expansion of informal settlements. Accordingly, this study aims to measure residents’ satisfaction with the quality of residential environments in Baqubah and identify the factors shaping it through an integrated six-dimensional framework (physical/architectural, infrastructural, environmental, service-related, socio-perceptual, and economic).
Materials and Methods
This research is applied in purpose and quantitative-survey in method. The statistical population consisted of residents of Baqubah city (capital of Diyala Governorate, Iraq). Using Cochran’s formula, the sample size was calculated as 384 respondents, selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected via a researcher-developed questionnaire titled “Residents’ Satisfaction with the Quality of Residential Environments,” measured on a five-point Likert scale. Reliability was confirmed with Cronbach’s alpha = 0.83. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS and AMOS at both descriptive and inferential levels. After profiling respondents and housing characteristics descriptively, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to assess normality. Overall satisfaction was evaluated using a one-sample t-test with a test value of 3. To examine the conceptual model and test the effects of demographic and physical variables on satisfaction, multiple regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed.
Results and Discussion
Descriptive results indicated that most respondents were male, employed, and aged 31–40. The majority reported medium income and homeownership, with housing units under 100 m² and typically two bedrooms. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test supported the normal distribution of the data (Sig > 0.05). The one-sample t-test showed a mean residential satisfaction score of 3.54, which is significantly higher than the theoretical midpoint of 3 (t = 7.33, p < 0.001). Regression/SEM findings further demonstrated that gender, age, education, tenure type, employment status, income, unit size, number of rooms, and distance to workplace have positive and statistically significant effects on satisfaction, and the model explains an acceptable proportion of variance (R² = 0.42). In terms of effect strength, unit size and number of rooms were the strongest predictors, followed by distance to workplace and income. This pattern suggests that, in Baqubah, in-dwelling physical attributes and the quality of private space weigh more heavily in shaping satisfaction than other dimensions—potentially reflecting local residential culture and the importance of privacy. Model fit indices confirmed adequacy (RMSEA = 0.07; CMIN/DF = 2.75).
Conclusion
Overall, residents’ satisfaction with the quality of residential environments in Baqubah is desirable and above average. The most influential drivers are internal physical characteristics of the dwelling (especially unit size and number of rooms), followed by accessibility and economic factors. Policy implications include revising land subdivision and building permit standards to discourage excessively small units, promoting mixed land use and strengthening public transportation to reduce home–work distances, and adopting housing support measures for low-income groups (e.g., affordable loans and reduced maintenance burdens). Finally, diversifying housing design to address the needs of different demographic groups can contribute to improved quality of life and stronger social sustainability in Baqubah.
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Article number: 13 |
| Keywords: Residential Satisfaction, Environmental Quality, Baqubah City, Iraq, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) |
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Full-Text [PDF 1691 kb]
(27 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/01/25 | Accepted: 2026/05/31 | Published: 2026/06/21
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