In collaboration with Payame Noor University and Iranian Geography and Urban Planning Association

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Department of Rural Geography, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Planning, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran.

10.30473/psp.2026.77530.2804

Abstract

Sustainable physical and social development of rural housing, as one of the main pillars of the formation and maintenance of the life of local communities, has always been one of the main concerns of regional development policymakers. In the meantime, Sistan Region, due to its unique climatic, social and economic characteristics, is a clear example of regions where the housing development process is influenced by contradictory and complex forces. This research has been conducted with the main aim of analyzing and measuring endogenous and exogenous factors affecting the physical and social development process of rural housing in this region in order to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms affecting the quality of rural life and, ultimately, to provide strategies for optimizing development interventions. The present research is applied in terms of its purpose and has been conducted using a mixed method (qualitative-quantitative) and a descriptive-analytical approach. The statistical population was defined in two groups: experts (20 people with purposive sampling until theoretical saturation was reached) and local residents (170 people with accessible sampling). Using the grounded theory method, endogenous factors (including indigenous knowledge adapted to the climate, cultural-family patterns, local livelihood and economic system, and social capital) and exogenous factors (including macro policies, natural hazards and climate change, economic developments, the influence of cultural-physical patterns, and foreign infrastructure) were identified. Based on the results of the one-sample t-test from the perspective of local communities, natural hazards and climate change were identified as the most influential factor on housing development with the highest mean (3.77), which indicates the direct perception of residents of environmental threats. After that, economic factors including local livelihood system (3.60) and macroeconomic developments (3.61) were emphasized as the main financial obstacles in housing investment and maintenance.

Keywords

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