scholarly journals Infrastructure as an aspect of quality of life and its influence on life satisfaction in small towns of the German region type central location

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-57
Author(s):  
Philipp Gareis ◽  
Christian Diller ◽  
Bärbel Winkler-Kühlken

According to most (inter)national studies, life satisfaction in small towns is higher than in other types of towns with more inhabitants. With a population survey in eight German cities, we examine the importance of the infrastructure as an aspect of quality of life and the accessibility of infrastructure for local life satisfaction and whether or not the factor of social cohesion has a stronger impact on life satisfaction. The results show a differentiated picture: First, the infrastructure offer, as an aspect of objectively measurable quality of life does not have the greatest impact on life satisfaction. The population of the small towns in central locations apparently takes advantage of the infrastructure offers of their neighbouring towns and other places. Somehow, they are very satisfied with life on site, despite a low level of satisfaction with the infrastructure. The study thus tends to confirm the borrowing size concept, according to which small towns in the surrounding area benefit from the functions of the core city. On the other hand, the two factors of social cohesion and satisfaction with the performance of the local administration are closely related to the individual life satisfaction on site. For further research, the question arises, as which factors can explain local common sense best and how this can be improved through political measures.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Ghadeer Alawi ◽  
Lobna Mostafa

Recreational waterfront developments can be only superficially pleasant as they lack substantial design qualities needed for their user’s comfort. Enhancing the user’s comfort and satisfaction will encourage people to spend more time outdoors, with the potential to improve their physical health, enrich their social cohesion, and enhance the overall quality of life. The objective of this study is to investigate the extent to which the physical characteristics of open spaces can contribute to the user’s satisfaction with space. The study evaluates the user’s perception of satisfaction in the recent development of Jeddah North Corniche and provides solutions to enhance this issue. The methodologies applied in this study are structured questioner survey, which focuses on understanding the current user’s preference and their level of satisfaction regarding the present condition. This increase the emphasis on representative citizen participation, who are usually not consulted in planning issues. The findings of this research involve the development of urban management principles for the adoption of sustainable waterfronts with the consideration of culture. The outcome should contribute to the Saudi 2030 vision by: Enhancing livability of Saudi Cities through improving the landscape and facilities of Jeddah urban waterfronts, and to encourage citizens to exercise at least once per week through enhancing the microclimate condition of waterfronts open spaces.


Author(s):  
M. Bondarenko ◽  
S. Babenko ◽  
O. Borovskiy

The present article highlights the results of social cohesion study fulfilled on datasets collected during the sixth wave of the European Social Survey. The conducted study involved the explanation of the importance of social cohesion as a social phenomenon, caused by a paradigmatic shift of approaches to measuring the quality of life of societies. This involved the consideration of social cohesion as an important factor to measure the "social quality" of life. For this purpose, a technique implemented by Bertelsmann Stiftung was used, which was applied to available sixth wave of European Social Survey data, the latter, which included Ukraine, and further certified through the analysis of other additional sources. The study allowed to make a number of substantive conclusions about the level of social cohesion in Ukraine comparing to European countries and other countries of the world. Some recommendations for further research on social cohesion also have been given. The said phenomenon is important because it once can cover a wide range of socially important issues, being simultaneously at both the individual and the collective (macro) level of consciousness. The research of social cohesion highlights "problematic social spheres", so-called weak points of social relations, and conclusions provide knowledge about the direction, to which the efforts to improve the life of the society should be primarily directed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Farhanah Rosli ◽  
Noor Suzilawati Rabe ◽  
Mariana Mohamed Osman

The quality of life (QOL) is a subjective matter that has been diversely defined by scholars. Since 1930s researchers from various fields have expressed interests in the definition of QOL, including investigating and measuring QOL using different methods. Over the last four decades, Malaysia has made remarkable achievements regarding its economic growth as well as its socio-economic development. Numerous factors have been identified that may affect the quality of life of people according to their personal preferences. For example, the quality of the individual work as an engineer may differ with the quality of life of an individual work as a teacher. Nevertheless, how the individual itself measures the quality of life can be different between each other. Definitions of quality of life are as numerous and inconsistent as the methods of assessing it. This paper highlights the perception towards the quality of life for the community living in the state of Selangor. The objectives of this research are to identify the current living condition in Selangor and the level of satisfaction towards the living condition in the State. Data was obtaine through a questionnaire survey of 500 respondents living in Selangor. The outcome of the study indicates that the community in Selangor measured their quality of life differently based on their socio-economic background. Also, several indicators and action were highlighted by the community to be considered as part of the recommendation to improve the current living standard towards a better quality of life in Selangor.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Sina Saeedy ◽  
Mojtaba Amiri ◽  
Mohammad Mahdi Zolfagharzadeh ◽  
Mohammad Rahim Eyvazi

Quality of life and satisfaction with life as tightly interconnected concepts have become of much importance in the urbanism era. No doubt, it is one of the most important goals of every human society to enhance a citizen’s quality of life and to increase their satisfaction with life. However, there are many signs which demonstrate the low level of life satisfaction of Iranian citizens especially among the youth. Thus, considering the temporal concept of life satisfaction, this research aims to make a futures study in this field. Therefore, using a mixed model and employing research methods from futures studies, life satisfaction among the students of the University of Tehran were measured and their views on this subject investigated. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analysed together in order to test the hypotheses and to address the research questions on the youth discontentment with quality of life. Findings showed that the level of life satisfaction among students is relatively low and their image of the future is not positive and not optimistic. These views were elicited and discussed in the social, economic, political, environmental and technological perspectives. Keywords:  futures studies, quality of life, satisfaction with life, youth


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Putu Sucita Yanthy ◽  
Luh Gede Leli Kusuma Dewi ◽  
W. Citra Juwitasari

Bali is one of spa tourist destinations having various categories of spas and spa treatments, and the most important is the spa therapists. Spa development becomes an interesting phenomenon to be studied when it is associated with an involvement of Balinese women as spa therapists in foreign countries. The world’s demand for Balinese spa therapists has become the motivation of women to work in this area. The work and life of Balinese spa therapists while they are working in foreign countries serve as parameters to know their quality of life, and these parameters are also the main focus of this study. Through in-depth interviews and questionnaires distributed to 20 therapists it was found out that 85 percent of them have revealed an improvement in their quality of life that is influenced by two factors: the material and intimacy factors. The material factor in question refers to the economic improvement of the family as they could earn enough income to cover their family needs. The intimacy factor in question refers to closeness and a sense of solidarity fostered while they are working abroad and the relationship within the family. This study concludes that the most important part of the development of spa in Bali is its female Balinese spa therapists due to the image that Balinese women working as spa therapists are loyal, hard-working and honest making them in demand among tourists who are seeking spa treatments. Being a spa therapist can improve their quality of life, which means that subjectively both material and intimacy factors are the aspects that affect the quality of life of the Balinese spa therapists.


1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 3603-3611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dympna Waldron ◽  
Ciaran A. O'Boyle ◽  
Michael Kearney ◽  
Michael Moriarty ◽  
Desmond Carney

PURPOSE: Despite the increasing importance of assessing quality of life (QoL) in patients with advanced cancer, relatively little is known about individual patient's perceptions of the issues contributing to their QoL. The Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life (SEIQoL) and the shorter SEIQoL–Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) assess individualized QoL using a semistructured interview technique. Here we report findings from the first administration of the SEIQoL and SEIQoL-DW to patients with advanced incurable cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: QoL was assessed on a single occasion using the SEIQoL and SEIQoL-DW in 80 patients with advanced incurable cancer. RESULTS: All patients were able to complete the SEIQoL-DW, and 78% completed the SEIQoL. Of a possible score of 100, the median QoL global score was as follows: SEIQoL, 61 (range, 24 to 94); SEIQoL-DW, 60.5 (range, 6 to 95). Psychometric data for SEIQoL indicated very high levels of internal consistency (median r = .90) and internal validity (median R2 = 0.88). Patients' judgments of their QoL were unique to the individual. Family concerns were almost universally rated as more important than health, the difference being significant when measured using the SEIQoL-DW (P = .002). CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced incurable cancer were very good judges of their QoL, and many patients rated their QoL as good. Judgments were highly individual, with very high levels of consistency and validity. The primacy given to health in many QoL questionnaires may be questioned in this population. The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to clinical assessment and advance directives.


2003 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Kay ◽  
Richard M. Rosenfeld

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to validate the SN-5 survey as a measure of longitudinal change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for children with persistent sinonasal symptoms. DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a before and after study of 85 children aged 2 to 12 years in a metropolitan pediatric otolaryngology practice. Caregivers completed the SN-5 survey at entry and at least 4 weeks later. The survey included 5 symptom-cluster items covering the domains of sinus infection, nasal obstruction, allergy symptoms, emotional distress, and activity limitations. RESULTS: Good test-retest reliability ( R = 0.70) was obtained for the overall SN-5 score and the individual survey items ( R ≥ 0.58). The mean baseline SN-5 score was 3.8 (SD, 1.0) of a maximum of 7.0, with higher scores indicating poorer HRQoL. All SN-5 items had adequate correlation ( R ≥ 0.36) with external constructs. The mean change in SN-5 score after routine clinical care was 0.88 (SD, 1.19) with an effect size of 0.74 indicating good responsiveness to longitudinal change. The change scores correlated appropriately with changes in related external constructs ( R ≥ 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: The SN-5 is a valid, reliable, and responsive measure of HRQoL for children with persistent sinonasal symptoms, suitable for use in outcomes studies and routine clinical care.


Author(s):  
Inmaculada García-Martínez ◽  
José María Augusto Landa ◽  
Samuel P. León

(1) Background: Academic engagement has been reported in the literature as an important factor in the academic achievement of university students. Other factors such as emotional intelligence (EI) and resilience have also been related to students’ performance and quality of life. The present study has two clearly delimited and interrelated objectives. First, to study the mediational role that engagement plays in the relationship between EI and resilience on quality of life. Secondly, and similarly, to study the mediational role of engagement in the relationship between EI and resilience, but in this case on academic achievement. (2) Methods: For this purpose, four scales frequently used in the literature to measure emotional intelligence, resilience, academic engagement and quality of life were administered to 427 students of the University of Jaén undertaking education degrees. In addition, students were asked to indicate their current average mark as a measure of academic performance. Two mediational models based on structural equations were proposed to analyse the relationships between the proposed variables. (3) Results: The results obtained showed that emotional intelligence and resilience directly predicted students’ life satisfaction, but this direct relationship did not result in academic performance. In addition, and assuming a finding not found so far, engagement was shown to exert an indirect mediational role for both life satisfaction and academic performance of students. (4) Conclusions: The findings of the study support the importance of engagement in the design and development of instructional processes, as well as in the implementation of any initiative.


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