Subjective well-being and place loyalty in Rural areas

Subjective well-being is the subjective component of quality of life. People with higher subjective well-being are expected to feel a good sense toward their surrounding environment, especially their residence place. Investigation of the relationship between subjective well-being and place loyalty is especially important for rural areas of Iran, which have lost a large number of their population.

The present study is an applied research with the descriptive-analytical approach. The research data were collected mainly by filling in the questionnaire. The statistical population of this study is the rural areas with a population of at least 100 people located in Dasht-e-Arzhan rural district, and the analysis unit is all people aged 18 and over. Data were analyzed using one-sample T-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and ETA coefficient applying the SPSS software.

The levels of place loyalty and subjective well-being are higher than the average. There is no significant difference between the studied villages in terms of level of subjective well-being, and the level of place loyalty as well. At the 95% confidence level, there is a positive and significant relationship between subjective well-being and place loyalty. There is a significant relationship between subjective well-being and variables of marital status, immigration history of relatives, age and residence length in the village. The relationship between place loyalty and variables of marital status, relatives' immigration history, age and residence length in the village is also significant.

Subjective well-being along with objective well-being and some other factors can explain the loyalty of individuals and households to their settlements. These findings can be used by rural policymakers and planners to take appropriate actions aimed at sustainable development of rural communities.