Factors Affecting Children's Happiness in Open Spaces of Residential Complexes: Case of Two Residential Complex in Shiraz

Shahroudi Kolour, Marziyeh; Rashid Kolvir, Hojjatollah

doi:10.22034/jss.2025.2025397.1834

Factors Affecting Children's Happiness in Open Spaces of Residential Complexes: Case of Two Residential Complex in Shiraz

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Marziyeh Shahroudi Kolour ¹

Hojjatollah Rashid Kolvir ²

¹ PhD in Architecture, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, National University of Skills (NUS), Tehran, Iran.

² Associate Professor of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22034/jss.2025.2025397.1834

Abstract

The present study aims at identifying factors affecting children's happiness in the open spaces of residential complexes. Happiness, as a multidimensional phenomenon, includes social (positive relationships with others), emotional (experience of positive emotions), and cognitive (satisfaction) dimensions, which interact to shape the overall experience of happiness. In terms of purpose, the research is applied, in terms of type, it is quantitative, and in terms of method, it is survey-based and descriptive-analytical. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, one-sample t-test, and regression analysis in SPSS_v.24. The results of the Pearson correlation test, with a coefficient of 0.639, confirmed the research hypothesis that there is a positive and direct relationship between the environmental-physical qualities of open spaces in residential complexes and children's happiness. The highest correlation was found for environmental legibility and clarity (0.633), followed by green space (0.577). The predictability of happiness based on environmental factors was determined through regression analysis. The results showed that variables such as the vehicular movement system (0.169) and physical environmental amenities (0.177) had an indirect effect on happiness, while other variables, such as environmental legibility and clarity (direct effect 0.271 and indirect effect 0.232), green space (direct effect 0.366 and indirect effect 0.189), and pedestrian access (direct effect 0.218 and indirect effect 0.203), had both direct and indirect effects. The findings indicate that children prefer activity and dynamism in the environment over pre-determined facilities for experiencing satisfaction and happiness. Therefore, future research may focus on investigating children's preferred activities in the open spaces of residential complexes and identifying the necessary environmental capabilities for these activities.

Keywords

Open Spaces

Residential Complexes

Happiness

Social Interaction

Satisfaction

Children

Argyle, M., Martin, M., & Crossland, J. (1989). “Happiness as a Function of Personality and Social Encounters”, In Recent Advances in Social Psychology, Elsevier, pp. 189 – 203.

Bukowski, W. M., & Sippola, L. K. (2005). Friendship and development: Putting the most human relationship in its place. New directions for child and adolescent development, 2005(109), 91-98.

Demir, M. (Ed.). (2015). Friendship and Happiness: Across the Life-Span and Cultures. Springer.

DeNeve, K. M., & Cooper, H. (1998). “The Happy Personality: A Meta-Analysis of 137 Personality Traits and Subjective Well-Being”, Psychological Bulletin, 124(2), pp. 197-229.

Diener, E., & Oishi, S. (2005). “The nonobvious social psychology of happiness”, Psychological Inquiry, 16(4), 162-167.

Diener, E., & Tay, L. (2017). “A Scientific Review of the Remarkable Benefits of Happiness for Successful and Healthy Living”, Happiness, pp. 90-106.

Elokda, H. (2015). Evaluating the Effect of Urban Design on Three Components of Happiness in Cairo, Egypt. A Dissertation Submitted in Part Requirement for the Degree of Masters of Science (Planning ANDRegeneration). University of Glasgow.

Eysenck, M. W. (1990). Happiness: Facts and myths. Hove, East Sussex: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Greco, C., & Ison, M. (2014). “What Makes You Happy? Appreciating the Reasons that Bring Happiness to Argentine Children Living in Vulnerable Social Contexts”, Journal of Latino/Latin American Studies, 6(1), pp. 4-18.

Holder, M. D., & Coleman, B. (2008). “The Contribution of Temperament, Popularity, and Physical Appearance to Children’s Happiness”, Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(2), pp. 279-302.

Holder, M. D., & Coleman, B. (2009). “The Contribution of Social Relationships to Children’s Happiness”, Journal of Happiness Studies, 10(3), pp. 329-349.

Holder, M. D., & Klassen, A. (2010). “Temperament and Happiness in Children”, Journal of Happiness Studies, 11(4), pp. 419-439.

Krekel, C., Kolbe, J., & Wüstemann, H. (2016). “The Greener, the Happier? The Effect of Urban Land Use on Residential Well-Being”, Ecological Economics, 121, pp. 117-127.

Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). “Pursuing Happiness: the Architecture of Sustainable Change”, Review of general psychology, 9(2), pp. 111-131.

Martin, P. (2005). Making Happy People: The Nature of Happiness and its Origins in Childhood, Harper Perennial.

Nunez, D., & Blake, E. (2001, November). Cognitive presence as a unified concept of virtual reality effectiveness. In Computer graphics, virtual reality, visualisation and interaction in Africa: Proceedings of the 1 st international conference on Computer graphics, virtual reality and visualization, 5(7), pp. 115-118).

Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2006). Character Strengths and Happiness among Young Children: Content Analysis of Parental Descriptions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7(3), pp. 323-341.

Petermans, A., & Nuyts, E. (2016). “Happiness in Place and Space: Exploring the Contribution of Architecture and Interior Architecture to Happiness”, The Design & Emotion Society, pp. 114-122.

Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive Psychology: An Introduction, American Psychological Association. 55(1).

Shabak, M., Norouzi, N., Abdullah, A. M., & Khan, T. H. (2015). “Children's Sense of Attachment to the Residential Common Open Space”, Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 201, pp. 39-48.

Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2004). “Achieving Sustainable New Happiness: Prospects, Practices, and Prescriptions”, Positive Psychology in Practice, pp. 127-145.

Uusitalo-Malmivaara, L., & Lehto, J. E. (2013). “Social Factors Explaining Children’s Subjective Happiness and Depressive Symptoms”, Social Indicators Research, 111(2), pp. 603-615.

Veenhoven, R. (2001). “What Do We Know about Happiness”, Paper presented at the dialogue on 'Gross National Happiness', Woudschoten, Zeist, The Netherlands, pp.14-15.