Analysis of Family Factors Affecting Urban Poverty Using Structural Equation Model (Case Study: Pol-e Dokhtar, Lorestan)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Geography, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran

Abstract

 
The urban households of Pol-e-Dokhtar, like those in other medium and small cities across the country that follow an agricultural lifestyle, face issues such as unemployment, lack of innovation and technology, low income, employment instability, and a lack of motivation for living. These problems have created many challenges for households in these types of cities, leading to issues such as migration and, most importantly, an increase in poverty among them. In this context, a set of factors and household assets influence their livelihood opportunities or their poverty levels. Identifying the types of these factors and assets can provide useful solutions for urban development planners and poverty reduction.
This study focused on identifying the effective household factors and assets related to urban poverty in Pol-e-Dokhtar. The research is practical in purpose and, methodologically, descriptive and analytical. The statistical population consisted of urban households in Pol-e-Dokhtar, with a sample of 380 households selected through quota and simple random sampling. To collect data—considering the models and objectives—questionnaires and Likert-scale quantitative questions were used. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in Amos software was employed to analyze the data and identify household factors. For identifying solutions to reduce poverty, qualitative methods such as interviews were used.
The results showed that economic/financial factors, with a impact coefficient of 0.68, physical factors at 0.32, social factors at 0.11, and human capital with 0.05, had the greatest influence on urban poverty. Regarding strategies to reduce poverty, the findings indicated that creating flexible family employment opportunities, investing in deprived urban neighborhoods, improving education and skills training for urban poor, supporting minorities, migrants, and impoverished individuals (through education and services), involving residents of poor neighborhoods in urban decision-making, fighting corruption, ensuring equitable distribution of public resources, upgrading poor and informal settlements, and expanding free public transportation are the most important actions to reduce urban poverty in Pol-e-Dokhtar. 

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References

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Geography and Territorial Spatial Arrangement
Volume 15, Issue 57
November 2025
Pages 1-28

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History

  • Receive Date: 25 June 2025
  • Revise Date: 13 September 2025
  • Accept Date: 21 September 2025

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