Exploring the Relationship between Urban Environmental Quality and Quality of Life Based on the Lived Experience of Ethnic subcultures

This study aims to investigate the relationship between urban environmental quality and quality of life among various ethnic subcultures in Tehran City, Iran. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining theoretical research, in-depth interviews, and statistical questionnaires. The study focused on ethnic groups as subcultures and identified several factors that contribute to the relationship, including integration with nature, sensory-cognitive interaction, historical meaning of the environment, functional public facilities, urban management and governance, and respect for citizens’ needs and desires as well as macro-policies. The questionnaire analysis using Smart-PLS revealed that accessibility, mobility, ecological, visual-physical, functional-activity quality, social, management-economic infrastructure, semantic and mental worldviews, integrations with quality and cultural elements, and mental quality of life are the most important concepts. The study found that citizens’ quality of life is significantly influenced by how they perceive cultural concepts and elements. The study examined the opinions of various ethnic groups, including Turkish and Azerbaijani, Lur, Kurdish, Gilaki, and Mazandarani subcultures, revealing differences in accessibility and mobility, as well as social and economic quality. The study concludes that cultural elements and qualities influence individuals’ meaning, worldviews, and subjective perceptions, resulting in a higher quality of life. Future research could explore the potential impact on quality of life in various subcultures of specific urban design interventions.