Analysis and Interpretation of Factors Contributing to the Sense of Loneliness in the City of Isfahan

Subject Areas :

Farshad Tahmasebizadeh ¹ , Shirin Toghyani ² , Mahmood Mohammadi ³

1 - Ph.D. Student in Urban Planning, Department of Urban Planning, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Urban Planning, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
3 - Associate Professor, Faculty of Art, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Received: 2024-08-02 Accepted : 2024-11-11 Published : 2024-12-21

Keywords: Loneliness, Urban Loneliness, Sense of Isolation, Isfahan.,

Abstract :

Loneliness is a form of suffering and pain that arises from a disruption in an individual's relationship with their environment and is one of the most significant challenges of the 21st century, greatly impacting mental health and quality of life. In the modern era, despite technological advancements and increased virtual communications, many individuals in cities experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. This feeling leads to depression, anxiety, and other mental and physical health issues. The urban space of Isfahan serves as the context and background for this research. The aim of this study is to analyze the factors creating a sense of loneliness in the city of Isfahan. In the analysis, Friedman's test and cluster analysis have been employed. The results of this research indicate that the factors creating a sense of loneliness in cities with desert ecosystems can be categorized into five main categories. The category of social deprivation includes lack of interactive opportunities, inequality in access to needs, lack of cohesion and disruption of social bonds due to a lack of sense of belonging and trust, psychological and emotional pressures leading to depression, anxiety, and stress resulting from modern urban life, lack of vibrant urban spaces with identity and lacking the possibility of self-actualization for residents, and challenges arising from modernity and socio-cultural changes resulting from immigration and tension between traditional and modern identities. To reduce the sense of loneliness in urban environments, comprehensive and multidimensional approaches that encompass social, cultural, and economic aspects as well as environmental, physical, and urban design dimensions should be considered.

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