Investigating the Mutual Effects of Social Capital and Quality of Life in Urban Neighborhoods Using Structural Equation Modeling (Case Study: Sultan Mir-Ahmad and Fin in Kashan)

Urban neighborhoods are a suitable context to form sustainable social relationships and increase trust and social participation. With the development of cities and fundamental changes in the lifestyles of residents, we are faced with widespread changes and even disconnections in close relationships. For this, the concept of social capital in local communities can be effectively employed for improving sustainable social development and quality of life. The purpose of this research is to identify the dimensions of social capital and quality of life at the level of urban neighborhoods and to measure the mutual effects between social capital and quality of life in the two neighborhoods of Sultan Mir-Ahmad and Fin in Kashan. This is an applied research using combinatorial data analysis (qualitative literature analysis and quantification methods). Multi-stage sampling was used and data was gathered through questionnaires. The t-test, Pearson correlation, and structural equation modeling were used to assess the hypotheses. The results of the study indicate a significant relationship between all dimensions of social capital with those of quality of life. The most effective dimension of social capital on quality of life is the trust index (0.85), while the most effective dimension of quality of life on social capital is the environmental health index (0.88). Therefore, by improving trust as the most effective social capital index, it is possible to improve the quality of life in urban neighborhoods, and by improving environmental health indicators that improve quality of life in urban neighborhoods it is possible to the optimal social capital. The mutual effects of the dimensions of social capital and quality of life can be used to regenerate rich capital and better quality of life in urban neighborhoods.