Introduction
The rapid population growth in metropolitan areas has brought about extensive spatial, social, and environmental consequences in surrounding and peri-urban areas. This process, characterized by urban sprawl, the conversion of agricultural land, increased population density, and growing pressure on natural resources, has turned peripheral zones into vulnerable hotspots in terms of urban livability. In developed countries, such spaces are managed through planned and sustainable approaches, whereas in developing countries—including Iran—weaknesses in spatial governance and control systems have exacerbated instability and reduced the quality of life in these areas.
Urban livability, as a multidimensional concept, emphasizes the interaction among physical, social, economic, environmental, and managerial dimensions, aiming to enhance the quality of living environments and increase residents' satisfaction. Previous studies indicate that factors such as population density, physical development patterns, access to services, environmental quality, and social participation play decisive roles in the level of urban livability. In this context, paying attention to peri-urban areas—as transitional spaces between city and countryside—becomes even more critical, as unsustainable management of these areas can intensify the social, economic, and environmental challenges of cities. Therefore, analyzing livability in peripheral areas provides a foundation for integrated planning and the realization of sustainable urban development.
Methodology
This study aims to analyze the state of urban livability within the boundaries of Yazd City. Using a descriptive-analytical method and combining quantitative and qualitative data, it examines the indicators affecting livability and analyzes the internal relationships among its dimensions. The research is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. The statistical population consists of residents living within the boundaries of Yazd City, as well as urban experts and managers, including university professors and specialists from relevant organizations (municipality, environmental protection, urban planning, and development). Given the large population of Yazd’s surrounding areas and based on Cochran’s formula for populations over 70,000, a sample size of 384 was determined. This sample can appropriately represent the entire statistical population with a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error. The study examined four dimensions (socio-cultural, economic, environmental, and physical-managerial) using a total of 27 indicators, as presented in Table (2).
Results and discussion
The results of this study show that the various dimensions affecting the livability of Yazd’s urban periphery align significantly with findings from domestic and international studies. The physical and managerial dimension, with a path coefficient of 0.393, has the greatest impact. This finding is consistent with previous research (such as Barzegar et al., 2019 and Ziyari et al., 2021), which emphasizes the role of infrastructure, urban design, and management as key factors in improving quality of life. The environmental dimension, with a path coefficient of 0.291, ranks second in importance. This result also aligns with studies such as Mousavi et al. (2021) and Xiao et al. (2022), which highlight the preservation of natural environment, green spaces, and environmental quality as vital components of livability. The economic (path coefficient = 0.167) and socio-cultural (path coefficient = 0.156) dimensions also show positive and significant effects, although their impact is less than the first two dimensions. These results are consistent with other studies, such as Barzegar et al. (2019) and Sarkar et al. (2020), which point to the role of economic opportunities, social participation, and a sense of belonging in enhancing livability. This pattern, while emphasizing the importance of infrastructure, urban management, and environmental preservation, reflects the influence of local conditions and the specific socio-economic context of the Yazd region. To achieve higher livability in this area, strategic actions should focus on improving infrastructure and urban management systems, protecting the environment, strengthening economic foundations, and ultimately reinforcing social and cultural ties.
Conclusion
This study was conducted to examine the relationships among various dimensions of livability within the boundaries of Yazd City, aiming to identify influential components and analyze the interaction among social, economic, environmental, physical, and managerial dimensions in improving urban living quality. The results of reliability and validity analyses for the measurement model of livability dimensions in Yazd’s urban periphery indicate that the constructs of the study possess appropriate statistical validity and internal consistency. According to the results, Cronbach’s alpha and Dijkstra–Henseler’s rho (ρ_A) values for all constructs were above 0.8, indicating high internal reliability and satisfactory correlation among items and their respective constructs. Based on cross-loading results, each item’s factor loading on its own construct was consistently higher than its loading on other constructs, confirming discriminant validity. In other words, each item correlates more strongly with its own construct than with others. Therefore, all dimensions studied possess appropriate conceptual distinctiveness, with no significant overlap among constructs. Overall, the findings indicate that the measurement model of urban livability in Yazd’s periphery has acceptable and appropriate reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. In addition, the results show that all studied dimensions—including physical-managerial, environmental, economic, and socio-cultural—have a positive and significant impact on the livability of Yazd’s urban periphery. The greatest effects, in order, belong to the physical-managerial dimension (β = 0.393, t = 5.532) and the environmental dimension (β = 0.291, t = 3.852). Although to a lesser extent, the economic and socio-cultural dimensions also play notable roles in enhancing livability. In general, improving the quality of infrastructure, urban management, environmental conditions, economic opportunities, and social capital is essential for enhancing livability.