Evaluating the sense of belonging to the place of Iranian immigrants with an emphasis on physical and environmental factors in the public spaces of the city (with a focus on Iranians living in Toronto, Canada)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fakhrosadat Tabatabaei 1
Mohammad Parva 2
Hamed Moztazadeh 3
Vahideh Hojati 2
1 PhD Student, Department of Architecture, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran.
3 Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran.
10.22034/el.2025.515383.1079
Abstract
Today, solving the psychological and two-sided crisis of immigrants' lack of sense of belonging to the destination society in the immigration process is essential as a social phenomenon. The present study investigated the physical dimensions of the sense of belonging to urban spaces and its effective indicators in Iranian-populated areas of Toronto, Canada. The type of research is analytical-descriptive and the method is survey. The study population was 100 Iranian immigrants living in the Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, and Thornhill areas of Toronto, Canada, who were selected using the snowball method. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software. The results showed that among the physical factors affecting the sense of belonging, the safety and security component was the most important component in creating a sense of belonging with 32 percent of effectiveness, followed by the environmental component and the accessibility component, and the human scale component had the lowest percentage of effectiveness in creating a sense of belonging to urban spaces for immigrants.

Highlights

  1. Amiri, N., Rostami, M. H., & Danaeifar, S. (2022). Evaluation of factors affecting citizens' sense of belonging to urban spaces: A case study of Enghelab Square in Bandar Bushehr. Journal of Geographical Research in Urban Planning, 2(10), 149-164.
  2. Ananahad, M., Gholamalizadeh, H., & Asadi Malekjahan, F. (2018). Assessing the sense of place attachment and maintaining residential unit identity in urban neighborhoods: A case study of the historic Saghrisazan neighborhood in Rasht. Biannual Scientific-Research Journal of Urban Ecology Studies, 19(1), 73-88.
  3. Bahrami, S., Mohammadian, D., & Vaziri, A. (2015). Study of the effect of the role of urban elements (signs) in the sense of belonging to a place in man-made environments, the first specialized conference on architecture and urban planning in Iran, Shiraz.
  4. Daneshgarmoghaddam. G, Bahrainy. H, Einifar. A, (2011), An investigation on sociability of the spaces based onpreception of nature in the built environment, Journal of fine  arts: Architecture and Urban Planing, 3(45). 27-38.
  5. Damankeshideh, M., Zandi, F., & Bagheri, F. (2011). Examining the impact of population growth on migration and housing conditions. UNFPA Project, Statistical Research Institute of Iran.
  6. Escalera-Reyes, J. 2020. Place Attachment, Feeling of Belonging and Collective Identity in Socio-Ecological Systems: Study Case of Pegalajar (Andalusia-Spain). Sustainability, 12(8), 33-88.
  7. Foroutan, Y. (2012). A sociological and demographic analysis of identity and migration relations. National Studies Quarterly, 13(2), 73-96.
  8. Hosseini, A; Azmati, H. (2021). Analysis on spatial justice of social dimensions and housing in eight districts of Tehran, The fourth national conference of modern technologies in architectural, Civil and Urban Engineering of Iran.
  9. Hosany, S., Prayag, G., Van Der Veen, R., Huang, S, & Deesilatham, S. (2017). Mediating effects of place attachment and satisfaction on the relationship between tourists’ emotions and intention to recommend. Journal of Travel Research, 56(8), pp: 1079-1093.
  10. Heidrantaj, V., & Alavi, M. (2015). Factors that increase the sense of belonging to a place, the first conference on urban planning, management and urban development, Abadeh.
  11. Iran Migration Yearbook (2021). Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Secretariat of the High Council of Iranian Affairs Abroad.
  12. Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website. https://iranian.mfa.ir/
  13. Jamali. F, (2002), Migration, Cities and Immigrant Adaptation, Publication of the Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Tabriz, Vol 4, No 182, 61-81.
  14. Javan Forouzandeh, A., & Matlabi, G. (2011). The concept of sense of place attachment and its contributing factors. Journal of Urban Identity, 8(5), 27-37.
  15. Jomehpour, M., & Ebrahimi, A. (2015). Assessment and evaluation of social sustainability principles in residential complexes. Journal of Urban Sociological Studies, 5(16), 1-30.
  16.  Kitchen. P,  Williams. A,  Gallina.M , 2015, Sense of belonging to local community in small-to-medium sized Canadian urban areas: a comparison of immigrant and Canadian born residents, BMC Psychology, 3(28), 1-17.
  17. Kameli, M., & Azamati, H. (2021). Investigating the relationship between sense of place attachment and the level of social security among citizens: A case study of Qom. Journal of Applied Research in Geographical Sciences, 21(61), 241-258.
  18. Liu. S, Zhang. F, Wu, F,,2022, Contrasting migrants' sense of belonging to the city in selected peri-urban neighborhoods in Beijing, Cities Journal, Volume 120.
  19. Moieni, M, Zali. N, Zabihi. H, (2024), The Impact of Physical Components on the Spirit of Place and Its Role in Shaping the Mood of the City and Citizens with Emphasis on Environmental Psychology; Case Study: Neighborhoods of Rasht City, Journal of Urban Environmental Planning and Development, Vol 4, No 13,
  20. Moayedi, M. (2013), Achieving Social Sustainability through the design and creation of vibrant, human – centered urban public spaces, National Conference on Humanistic Architecture and Urban Plannig, Islamic Azad University of Qazvin.
  21. Rashid Kalivar, H., Abbaszadeh Diz, F., Akbari, H., & Shahroudi Kaloor, M. (2019). Examining the sense of place attachment from the perspective of physical and non-physical indicators in detached houses and apartment complexes: A case study of Tabriz. Journal of Geography and Urban Space Development, 6(2), 195-215.
  22. Shokrgozar, A., Shakernia, I., & Jalali, Z. (2016). Evaluation of sense of place attachment in urban public spaces: A case study of District 2, Rasht. Fourth National Conference on Applied Research in Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Management, Tehran, 1-21.
  23. Qashqaei, R., Moheb, K., & Mohammadzadeh, H. (2016). Evaluation of sense of place attachment with emphasis on physical and environmental factors in urban coasts: A case study of Bushehr coast. Journal of Geographical Research in Urban Planning, 4(2), 261-282.
  24. Wunderlich, F M. 2008. Walking and Rhythmicity: Sensing Urban Space. Bartlett School of Planning, University College, London, UK. 125-13.

Keywords

Subjects

  1. Amiri, N., Rostami, M. H., & Danaeifar, S. (2022). Evaluation of factors affecting citizens' sense of belonging to urban spaces: A case study of Enghelab Square in Bandar Bushehr. Journal of Geographical Research in Urban Planning, 2(10), 149-164.
  2. Ananahad, M., Gholamalizadeh, H., & Asadi Malekjahan, F. (2018). Assessing the sense of place attachment and maintaining residential unit identity in urban neighborhoods: A case study of the historic Saghrisazan neighborhood in Rasht. Biannual Scientific-Research Journal of Urban Ecology Studies, 19(1), 73-88.
  3. Bahrami, S., Mohammadian, D., & Vaziri, A. (2015). Study of the effect of the role of urban elements (signs) in the sense of belonging to a place in man-made environments, the first specialized conference on architecture and urban planning in Iran, Shiraz.
  4. Daneshgarmoghaddam. G, Bahrainy. H, Einifar. A, (2011), An investigation on sociability of the spaces based onpreception of nature in the built environment, Journal of fine  arts: Architecture and Urban Planing, 3(45). 27-38.
  5. Damankeshideh, M., Zandi, F., & Bagheri, F. (2011). Examining the impact of population growth on migration and housing conditions. UNFPA Project, Statistical Research Institute of Iran.
  6. Escalera-Reyes, J. 2020. Place Attachment, Feeling of Belonging and Collective Identity in Socio-Ecological Systems: Study Case of Pegalajar (Andalusia-Spain). Sustainability, 12(8), 33-88.
  7. Foroutan, Y. (2012). A sociological and demographic analysis of identity and migration relations. National Studies Quarterly, 13(2), 73-96.
  8. Hosseini, A; Azmati, H. (2021). Analysis on spatial justice of social dimensions and housing in eight districts of Tehran, The fourth national conference of modern technologies in architectural, Civil and Urban Engineering of Iran.
  9. Hosany, S., Prayag, G., Van Der Veen, R., Huang, S, & Deesilatham, S. (2017). Mediating effects of place attachment and satisfaction on the relationship between tourists’ emotions and intention to recommend. Journal of Travel Research, 56(8), pp: 1079-1093.
  10. Heidrantaj, V., & Alavi, M. (2015). Factors that increase the sense of belonging to a place, the first conference on urban planning, management and urban development, Abadeh.
  11. Iran Migration Yearbook (2021). Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Secretariat of the High Council of Iranian Affairs Abroad.
  12. Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Website. https://iranian.mfa.ir/
  13. Jamali. F, (2002), Migration, Cities and Immigrant Adaptation, Publication of the Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Tabriz, Vol 4, No 182, 61-81.
  14. Javan Forouzandeh, A., & Matlabi, G. (2011). The concept of sense of place attachment and its contributing factors. Journal of Urban Identity, 8(5), 27-37.
  15. Jomehpour, M., & Ebrahimi, A. (2015). Assessment and evaluation of social sustainability principles in residential complexes. Journal of Urban Sociological Studies, 5(16), 1-30.
  16.  Kitchen. P,  Williams. A,  Gallina.M , 2015, Sense of belonging to local community in small-to-medium sized Canadian urban areas: a comparison of immigrant and Canadian born residents, BMC Psychology, 3(28), 1-17.
  17. Kameli, M., & Azamati, H. (2021). Investigating the relationship between sense of place attachment and the level of social security among citizens: A case study of Qom. Journal of Applied Research in Geographical Sciences, 21(61), 241-258.
  18. Liu. S, Zhang. F, Wu, F,,2022, Contrasting migrants' sense of belonging to the city in selected peri-urban neighborhoods in Beijing, Cities Journal, Volume 120.
  19. Moieni, M, Zali. N, Zabihi. H, (2024), The Impact of Physical Components on the Spirit of Place and Its Role in Shaping the Mood of the City and Citizens with Emphasis on Environmental Psychology; Case Study: Neighborhoods of Rasht City, Journal of Urban Environmental Planning and Development, Vol 4, No 13,
  20. Moayedi, M. (2013), Achieving Social Sustainability through the design and creation of vibrant, human – centered urban public spaces, National Conference on Humanistic Architecture and Urban Plannig, Islamic Azad University of Qazvin.
  21. Rashid Kalivar, H., Abbaszadeh Diz, F., Akbari, H., & Shahroudi Kaloor, M. (2019). Examining the sense of place attachment from the perspective of physical and non-physical indicators in detached houses and apartment complexes: A case study of Tabriz. Journal of Geography and Urban Space Development, 6(2), 195-215.
  22. Shokrgozar, A., Shakernia, I., & Jalali, Z. (2016). Evaluation of sense of place attachment in urban public spaces: A case study of District 2, Rasht. Fourth National Conference on Applied Research in Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Urban Management, Tehran, 1-21.
  23. Qashqaei, R., Moheb, K., & Mohammadzadeh, H. (2016). Evaluation of sense of place attachment with emphasis on physical and environmental factors in urban coasts: A case study of Bushehr coast. Journal of Geographical Research in Urban Planning, 4(2), 261-282.
  24. Wunderlich, F M. 2008. Walking and Rhythmicity: Sensing Urban Space. Bartlett School of Planning, University College, London, UK. 125-13.
Human Ecology
Volume 4, Issue 11
Summer 2025
Pages 942-956