Social and Psychological Reflections of Columnar Settlement

A Field Study in Erbil

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the social and psychological effects of living in high-rise buildings and determine the impact of services in mitigating these consequences. The study employed a quantitative approach, using a descriptive method through a social survey with sample examples for analysis. A survey form was developed by the researchers, comprising four dimensions: social, psychological, economic, and service. The scale's psychometric properties were evaluated to ensure validity and reliability. The study population consisted of families residing in high-rise residential communities in the center of Erbil. The sample included 380 residential units in high-rise buildings, selected using stratified sampling. The key findings of this study indicate that overall, the social, psychological, and economic consequences of high-rise housing among the study participants are moderate. Furthermore, while there is no statistically significant difference in consequences between males and females, there are significant variations across age groups in all dimensions (social, psychological, economic, and service). Regarding the impact of services on outcomes (social, psychological, economic), it was observed that services do have an effect, with an inverse relationship, meaning that higher availability of services corresponds to lower social, psychological, and economic consequences.