Assessing Citizens' Satisfaction with Urban Quality of Life (Case Study: Imam Sahib City, Kunduz Province, Afghanistan)

بررسی رضایت¬مندی شهروندان از کیفیت‌زندگی شهری ( مطالعه‌ی موردی: شهر امام صاحب، ولایت کندز ، افغانستان)

Abstract

Urban quality of life is a critical concern in urban studies, and assessing citizens’ satisfaction is essential for effective urban planning. This study evaluated residents’ satisfaction with social, economic, physical, and transportation indicators of quality of life in Imam Sahib City, Kunduz Province, Afghanistan. Using an applied, descriptive-analytical approach, data were collected through a structured questionnaire comprising 39 variables across four indicators, measured on a Likert scale. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. The findings revealed that social and economic environment indicators received the highest mean scores (3.45), indicating relatively favorable conditions. The transportation indicator ranked slightly lower (3.44), while the physical environment indicator received the lowest mean score (3.33). Although all four indicators were assessed as relatively favorable, their comparatively high standard deviations indicated considerable variation in residents’ perceptions. Furthermore, the Friedman test revealed statistically significant differences among the indicators (p = 0.001), ranking social and economic environments highest, followed by transportation and physical environments. The findings highlight the need for targeted improvements in urban infrastructure and physical environments while maintaining favorable social and economic conditions.