Comparing Depression Scores in Different Types of Housing and Residential Floors in the Residents of Isfahan City, Iran

Abstract</span></span></span></span></span></span>
Background &

</span> The impact of living in an inappropriate residence is evident in causing mental health issues like depression and other mental disorders, as well as its complications on the individual and social aspects of the people. It seems necessary to investigate the relationships between types of residence, floors, number of units on each floor, and depression. Also, people spend most of their time at their homes. In addition, it is crucial to pay attention to the residential spaces and their effects on mental health with respect to the unwanted attendance of people at their homes due to special situations like the coronavirus outbreak, which makes the houses multifunctional. Analyzing this relationship and concentrating on it by architects while designing procedures can elevate residential desirability toward reducing depression. Considering the significance of housing desirability for improving mental health and preventing mental disorders or complications like depression (due to its high occurrence), this research aims to explore the relationship between the type of housing, floor, and depression rate in residential environments of Isfahan City, Iran.</span></span>

</span> The current study is descriptive–correlational, and the statistical population consists of all residents of 15 municipality districts of Isfahan City. So, 320 residential units were selected for investigation using a random cluster sampling method. The exclusion criteria were as follows: not answering all questions in the questionnaire and living less than one year in the unit, as the features of the residential place exhibit after one year of living in that area.</span>L</span>ovibond Depression Questionnaire (1995) was applied to collect data. In the following, the type of housing, floors, and number of units on each floor, along with other residential environment characteristics, were asked and investigated. Also, at least two completed questionnaires were received from each residential unit. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze data. The Cronbach alpha index, composite reliability, and convergent validity were obtained at 0.974, 0.975, and 0.662 for depression variables, respectively. It should be noted that 0.05 was considered the significance level for all tests.</span> </span></span></span>

</span> Concerning the Kruskal–Wallis</span></span> results, there were significant differences between depression scores based on the four types of residence: housing, apartments up to 3 floors, apartments between 3 to 9 floors, and apartments more than 10 floors (p< 0.001). A significant difference was seen between the mean depression scores of paired housing, apartments up to 3 floors, apartments between 3 to 9 floors, and apartments more than 10 floors groups (p< 0.05). So, it can be said that the people’s depression scores have significant differences regarding the apartments with more than 10 floors, and the people in these apartments are more depressed than others (p<0.001). The depression scores of people who lived on the fifth or upper floors were significantly higher than other groups, and people who lived there were more depressed. Also, there were significant differences between 5 groups of one unit, two units, three units, four units, and five or more units regarding the mean depression scores (p<0.001). The depression score of people living in five or more units on every floor was significantly different from other groups, and people who lived there were more depressed. Also, the number of units at each floor variable and average depression score were different among various groups (p<0.001). Residents of large houses were expected to gain lower depression scores than those who lived in apartment buildings, but the research did not approve of that. </span></span>

</span>There is a significant relationship between the residential floor, the number of units on each floor, and depression score. The results of this research can be used in designing residential environments to prevent depression or avoid its complications.</span></span></span></span>