Investigating the Impact of Age-Friendly City Indicators on the Satisfaction Level of the Elderly in Iranian Cities (Case Study: Tehran)
Subject Areas : Islamic urbanism
akbar Talebpour
1
*
,
mohammad ghasemi
2
1 - Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Management, Institute of Humanities and Social Studies, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Keywords: Tehran, Elderly, Age-Friendly City, Right to the City, Satisfaction.,
Abstract :
Investigating the Impact of Age-Friendly City Indicators on the Satisfaction Level of the Elderly in Iranian Cities (Case Study: Tehran)
Akbar Talebpour*
Mohammad Ghasemi Siani**
The increase in the number of elderly people and the necessity of paying attention to the needs of old age have made it essential to plan cities based on their needs; to the extent that the World Health Organization has designated the current decade as the Decade of Healthy Ageing and has obligated countries to follow the rules of age-friendly cities. The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of age-friendly city indicators on the satisfaction level of the elderly in Tehran using the theories of universal design (Ron Mace), behavior-oriented design (John Lang), public spaces (William Whyte), the right to the city (David Harvey), and spatial justice (Edward Soja). The statistical population of the study was the elderly residing in Tehran, from whom 400 individuals were selected as a statistical sample using the Cochran formula through random sampling, with an average age of 73 years. Data were collected through a 52-item questionnaire, 46 of which were related to the translation of the global age-friendly city indicators questionnaire, and its validity was confirmed through content validity and its reliability through Cronbach's alpha. Based on the research results, the mean of the independent variables and the dependent variable (except for the two variables of housing and respect and social inclusion) were below the average level. Analysis of the findings using multivariate regression analysis showed that age-friendly city criteria including housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, social support and health services, outdoor spaces and buildings, and transportation played an important role in the satisfaction level of the elderly, respectively. Furthermore, the research constructs, based on structural equation modeling, played a significant role in explaining the satisfaction of the elderly in Tehran.
Keywords: Tehran, Elderly, Age-Friendly City, Right to the City, Satisfaction.
Introduction
The increase in the number of elderly people in recent years has been so significant that the World Health Organization has named the current decade, which coincides with the years 2021 to 2030, the "Decade of Healthy Ageing." It is expected that in the shadow of this new concept, the necessary conditions for independent and autonomous functioning in old age will be created, and quality of life will be added to the quantity of life. It is obvious that designing an age-friendly environment and city, which is one of the goals of this decade and has been pursued since September 2015, will lead to improved individual (physical, mental, and functional) and environmental (family and social) conditions, and consequently will provide the possibility of enjoying old age with greater well-being. The present study seeks to investigate the impact of age-friendly city indicators on the satisfaction of the elderly with urban life, with an emphasis on the city of Tehran, in order to, on the one hand, examine the status of the components of this indicator, and on the other hand, determine the extent and impact of each of these components on the overall satisfaction with the city among the elderly in Tehran. It is obvious that the level of satisfaction of the elderly with the status of age-friendly city indicators is one of the neglected points that has not been addressed so far, and given the rapid growth of aging, it should receive special attention so that those in charge of urban affairs, with sufficient knowledge of these issues, do not face unforeseen problems in this field in the not-too-distant future, and the city has sufficient potential in this regard.
The advantage of the present study over previous studies lies, on the one hand, in examining the status and dimensions of age-friendly indicators of Tehran from the perspective of the elderly, which can serve as a guide and roadmap for those in charge to bring about a new transformation in urban policies towards addressing the needs of the elderly in the context of age-friendly city indicators in Tehran. On the other hand, by measuring the impact of the dimensions and components of the age-friendly city on the level of satisfaction with the city, we can precisely determine which dimensions and components, when enhanced, can increase the satisfaction of the elderly. This will also play a significant role in determining future priorities and guidelines for urban planning.
Methodology
The research method of this study is descriptive, and in terms of data collection, it is of the survey type, and in terms of type, it falls under the category of applied research. The data collection method is survey-based. Since this article explains the impact of age-friendly city indicators on the satisfaction level of the elderly with life in the city of Tehran from the perspective of the elderly in Tehran, it is a descriptive study with a quantitative approach, the results of which can be applied to address existing needs and problems. Because a survey method was used in conducting the research, its results can be generalized to the entire statistical population of the elderly. In the present study, first, a library research method was used to collect the theoretical foundations related to the research topic, and to provide descriptive and inferential statistics, test the research hypotheses, and draw conclusions with an appropriate degree of confidence regarding the generalization of the results obtained from the statistical sample to the population, a researcher-made questionnaire was prepared, validated for content validity, and tested for reliability using a survey and field method at an appropriate time. It was then presented to the statistical sample individuals, and after explaining the subject to them, they were given the opportunity to respond to the questionnaire items within the specified time. Finally, the data obtained from this questionnaire were statistically analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, and the research hypotheses were tested. The statistical population of the present study is the elderly population aged 65 and over in the city of Tehran, which, according to the latest update (July 2025) by the Statistical Center of Iran, numbered 866,220 individuals. Based on the stratified sampling method, the sample size was calculated as 384 using the Cochran formula. However, to cover statistical errors, 400 questionnaires were distributed to these individuals as the statistical sample.
Findings
The mean of the main research variables for all independent variables and the dependent variable (except for the two variables of housing and respect and social inclusion) were below the average level, which is a negative point. Furthermore, the level of satisfaction of the elderly with life in Tehran was also below the average level, and it is necessary for those in charge to take serious measures to increase these variables. The social analysis of the mean of these variables, which are considered the main criteria of an age-friendly city, indicates that Tehran is far from being an age-friendly city in almost all dimensions, and it is better to pay special attention in this regard. Considering religious and social teachings, special attention must be paid to the needs of the elderly. The prophetic hadith regarding the goodness and blessing of the elderly is precisely related to this issue and shows that the religion of Islam paid attention to this matter centuries before Western societies.
According to the obtained results, the eight variables of housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, social support and health services, outdoor spaces and buildings, and transportation were entered into the research regression analysis model as independent variables. Based on the results of the regression analysis, the beta coefficients were as follows: housing (0.378), respect and social inclusion (0.361), social participation (0.311), social support and health services (0.272), communication and information (0.247), outdoor spaces and buildings (0.195), civic participation and employment (0.173), and transportation (0.054). Therefore, the eight variables of housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, social support and health services, outdoor spaces and buildings, and transportation play an important role in the satisfaction level of the elderly with the city.
Overall, according to the regression model of the study and based on the adjusted coefficient of determination, these eight variables were able to explain 40% of the changes in the variable of the elderly's satisfaction with the city in the studied population. Therefore, seven research hypotheses were confirmed. However, the hypothesis regarding the impact of transportation on the satisfaction level of the elderly with the city of Tehran was not confirmed.
Conclusion
Policy and urban planning gaps regarding the suitability of facilities, accessibility, and urban furniture for the needs of the elderly in Tehran render the elderly unable to meet their daily needs, and it is necessary for those in charge of urban affairs in Tehran to pay special attention to this matter. The present study was conducted to investigate the level of satisfaction of the elderly in Tehran with the status of age-friendly city indicators in this city. The results of the study showed that the mean of the independent variables housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, social support and health services, outdoor spaces and buildings, and transportation as well as the dependent variable of the level of satisfaction of the elderly with life in the city of Tehran, were low. This indicates a lack of attention to the components of age-friendly city indicators on the one hand, and a neglect of gaining the satisfaction of the elderly in this regard on the other.
The overall results of the study regarding the low satisfaction of the elderly with age-friendly city indicators highlight the necessity of paying attention to various dimensions of livability in Tehran for the elderly and indicate the need to address these dimensions in this city. Given the rapid growth of aging, this issue must be given special attention. The research findings in this regard are consistent and aligned with the findings of Mousavi et al. (2025) in domestic studies and the findings of Segura Cardona et al. (2022) in international studies.
Based on the results of this study, in order to increase attention to the elderly and enhance their level of satisfaction with life in the city of Tehran, the following suggestions, derived from the research findings, are presented to those in charge of urban administration in Tehran:
- The need to pay attention to social support and appropriate healthcare services for the elderly,
- Utilizing the elderly in urban administration and considering their opinions and perspectives,
- Organizing city tours for the elderly,
- Improving the status of public transportation.
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* Corresponding Author: Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
a.talebpour@alzahra.ac.ir
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1644-6117
** Assistant Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Management, Institute of Humanities and Social Studies, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
M.ghasemi@acecr.ac.ir
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9038-1537
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