Structural modeling of factors influencing vitality in residential complexes: a mixed method study

Abstract This research aims to address the gap in understanding by exploring the structural components that promote vitality in the public spaces of residential complexes in Tehran, Iran, with a focus on physical, behavioral, and semantic factors. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative research, the study gathered data through structured questionnaires from housing experts. The study adopts a normative, expert-based approach to evaluate the determinants of residential vitality rather than measuring residents' perceptions or lived experiences. The sample consisted of 500 experts selected via snowball sampling, ensuring adequate sample representation as confirmed by the KMO test. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were verified using Cronbach's alpha and model fit indices. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and path analysis using SPSS and AMOS software. The results show that physical factors have a significant impact on residents' vitality, with mobility serving as a mediating factor. Path analysis identified three key relationships within the structural model: physical attributes, mediated by mobility variables, enhance residents’ vitality; behavioral patterns, also mediated by mobility, contribute to increased vitality; and perceptual-semantic values, representing the dependent dimension of vitality, are significantly influenced by physical factors. Among the physical factors, integrity plays the most important role in enhancing residents' vitality. Mobility, encompassing physical, behavioral, and semantic dimensions, is essential for promoting vitality. Notably, collectivism was identified as one of the most influential determinants of vitality.