Shima Taheri | Islamic Azad University Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch (original) (raw)

Papers by Shima Taheri

International Journal of Tourism Cities, 2024

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the role of handicraft production units... more Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the role of handicraft production units within creative cultural clusters (CCCs) and their impact on urban regeneration, particularly within the historical fabric of Isfahan. It aims to identify the key factors contributing to the development of CCCs and how these clusters, in turn, influence tourism development.

Design/methodology/approach
The research method of this study is based on a quantitative approach, using a researcher-devised questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument. The statistical population included 227 units of handicraft makers in the historical fabric of Isfahan. The data processing and analysis were performed using SPSS software.

Findings
Statistical analysis confirms the creative industries, spatial and socio-cultural indices significantly impact tourism, with means of 14.19, 19.07 and 15.11. Clustering, cultural resources and tourism are key to CCCs growth, while innovation and cultural identity have less effect. CCCs enhance Isfahan’s historical fabric, improving urban space attractiveness and fostering social ties. Handicraft clusters around Naqsh-e Jahan square notably influence the economy and cultural identity, with shop placement reflecting the city’s character.

Originality/value
The originality of this research lies in its analysis of how handicraft production within CCCs contributes to urban regeneration and tourism in Isfahan, with a novel focus on the socio-cultural and economic impacts of these clusters in a historical context.

Geography and Urban Space Development, 2023

Abstract Urbanization and the resulting lifestyle, along with the existence of spaces far from n... more Abstract

Urbanization and the resulting lifestyle, along with the existence of spaces far from nature, can be seen in both architectural and urban spaces and in humans with physical and psychological damage. On the other hand, the growing aging of the world requires serious considerations by designers and planners of cities. The search for the components of the physical dimension of therapeutic landscapes (Shahid Rajaei Park in Isfahan) is the main question of the research. Based on qualitative research method and qualitative analysis with inductive approach, semi-structured interviews with 21 elderly people (using MAXQDA software) were conducted. To promote therapeutic and decrease anti-therapeutic themes, research results identified physical efficiency and capability, natural and physical-historical attractiveness, accessibility and proximity, climatic comfort, sound landscape, sensory stimulation, landscape beauty, mindscape and positive emotions, unfavorable sound landscape and decrease in physical efficiency. Affecting the mental health of the elderly, the Park has been able to provide a therapeutic experience by creating a relative balance, enhancing internal capacity and adaptation to maintain physical, mental, and psychological functions. Health consequences such as a sense of calm, attention recovery, and mood improvement are the result of such an experience. The most important subcategories are satisfaction, trees, and sociable space. Older trees had a significant positive impact on climate comfort, sensory stimulation, natural attractiveness, mindscape, landmark, proximity, and landscape beauty.

Social Science & Medicine, Apr 1, 2021

Health geography emphasizes landscape capacity as a perspective for examining health dimensions. ... more Health geography emphasizes landscape capacity as a perspective for examining health dimensions. Much of this emphasis is on the concept of therapeutic landscapes. In the last two decades, changes in the therapeutic landscapes concerning health, as well as why and how the development of the emphasis on the dimensions of the health in the landscape in proportion to the temporal-spatial course of literature in this field can be considered. The framework of the present study is based on a systematic review of therapeutic landscapes in the geography of health in the last two decades. This systematic literature review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Searching for "Therapeutic Landscapes" term at Science Direct and PubMed, screening, 56 eligible articles were selected in the journal Social Science and Medicine, and Health and Place. The results of the systematic review, aiming to search for the health dimensions of the therapeutic landscape, and recognize main gaps, identified three main issues: scale and range of users of therapeutic landscapes, the position importance of experiences in therapeutic landscapes, therapeutic landscapes as the holistic paradigm. The results of the research show that in recent years, attention to multiple dimensions of health, especially non-physical relationships of therapeutic landscapes and multiple dimensions of health, has been considered more and more by researchers. Personal-social perceptions and experiences are also continually evolving, so the concept of therapeutic landscapes and its relationship to health is considered living and dynamic.

This paper examines historical urban fabrics' challenges regarding quality of life and visual dis... more This paper examines historical urban fabrics' challenges regarding quality of life and visual disturbances despite their cultural and identity value. Regeneration and socialoriented approaches considering social, economic, and cultural dimensions preserve and enhance these valuable materials. Tactical urbanism, with its people-oriented approach, can address these issues. This study focused on Sarpol in Khomeinishahr County, Isfahan Province of Iran. The city's urban structure divides into two parts: despite its active social structure and valuable spaces, Sarpol is a historic neighborhood with significant deterioration. We followed Corbin and Strauss's version of Grounded Theory in the qualitative research methodology. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were employed to select 21 participants from the Sarpol neighborhood for semi-structured interviews. The analysis involved three stages of coding: open, axial, and selective. The themes included religious participation, identity, sustainable social bonds, indigenous dependence, and low environmental quality. The central issue identified was the crucial role of religious and cultural values as a driving force for tactical urbanism, which emerged as the most critical semantic domain related to the research problem.

Journal of Military Medicine, 2016

PTSD is one of the consequences of exposure to war. Due to stressful events in war, veterans may ... more PTSD is one of the consequences of exposure to war. Due to stressful events in war, veterans may face mental health problems which seriously affects the quality of their lives, families and communities. So, consequently reducing stress and improving the health and quality of the life of veterans and the society is very important. The goal of the present research was to investigate the conceptual and practical principles in designing healing gardens for veterans with PTSD by focusing on reducing stress. This research is a narrative review study based on investigating the theoretical foundations, reviewing test results and the case studies which have been conducted throughout the world. Using healing gardens for veterans, has a positive effect on their health by reducing blood pressure, heart rate, stress, depression and so on. The most effective use of healing gardens for veterans is when the design of the garden is based on stress reduction. In this context, the use of the stress-reduction theory Ulrich and Kaplan is extremely efficient.

International Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies (IJHCS) ISSN 2356-5926, 2015

Since children's physical and psychological characteristics are different, it is obvious that tre... more Since children's physical and psychological characteristics are different, it is obvious that treatment spaces of children demand their specific interior design. In this article has been tried to affect in the process of improving the sick children and increase the efficiency of treatment spaces with the use of evidence-based approach, by relying on reducing stress and anxiety caused by the presence in healthcare environments and enhance the peace and a sense of belonging.The research method of the present article is kind of descriptive-analytic and data gathering method is based on documentary study. The result of research is presenting strategies in designing rehabilitation-treatment spaces for children that have healing environmental quality.Features of light, color, the visual affecting forms , painting and proportionate environmental graphic or children in waiting rooms, detection spaces and rest and different treatment areas andalso establishing the game and entertainment spaces to instill a sense of peace, security and stimulate the visual impressions and space relation and perspective to the various interior spaces and or nature and landscapes of external area of therapeutic spaces can have a significant impact by creating a positive distraction to accelerate treatment process and increasing healing quality of therapeutic spaces of children.

Haft Hesar J Environ Stud, 2021

Abstract: Introduction: The global elderly population is growing at an alarming rate. One of the... more Abstract:
Introduction: The global elderly population is growing at an alarming rate. One of the main problems of the elderly is dementia, and the most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's disease. Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia are present in most Alzheimer's patients since no definitive medication has been approved for dementia and Alzheimer's patients. Adopting non-pharmacological treatments through a variety of interventions -especially those involving nature -offers therapeutic benefits that are critical for Alzheimer's patients.
Methodology: In this regular review, 31 eligible sources were selected, following PRISMA guidelines, and searching for defined keywords in the Google Scholar and PubMed databases, as well as applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the final screening, the quality of qualified resources obtained from the screening process of the first stage(titles and abstracts of articles) and the second stage(full text) was assessed with MMAT. With the unanimity of all three authors, data extraction was prepared in the form of a standard checklist of output information. BPSD-related keywords were first identified using up-to-date and specialized sources in Alzheimer's disease in the elderly. In the second stage, by reviewing multiple eligible studies, the relationships between BPSD and spatial qualities of the therapeutic garden were identified by coding. In the third stage, the spatial quality relationships affecting BPSD in the therapeutic garden were categorized and presented in the form of therapeutic garden design guidelines for the elderly with Alzheimer's.
Results: The results in the form of therapeutic garden design guidelines include the location (visual communication, light), safety (enclosure, lighting, legibility), shadow, access, movement-pause paths, the culture of the place, and horticulture-therapy. Also, the relationship between therapeutic garden design guidelines and behavioral and psychological symptoms of the elderly with Alzheimer's disease was identified. Most of the therapeutic effects of the therapeutic garden are through the reduction of disturbing behaviors, which is strongly related to the design guidelines, including: inside and outside communication, enclosure, garden, legibility, paths, and accessibility. As a result, compliance with a set of safety considerations related to reducing disturbed behaviors is of particular importance in designing a therapeutic garden for the Alzheimer's elderly.
Conclusion: Therapeutic gardens in supportive environments are among the most effective ways to support Alzheimer's patients in a nursing home and improve BPSD. Considering the three spectrums of cognitive/perceptual, emotional, and behavioral disorders of patients on the one hand and the capacities of the therapeutic garden due to physical and non-physical dimensions, we can expect to reduce the symptoms of the disease by adopting user-oriented design policies. Horticultural activity, attention to route and access, and cultural considerations are among the most essential components of designing a Therapeutic garden for the elderly with Alzheimer's.
Keywords: Therapeutic Garden, Elderly, Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia, Health, Systematic Review

Books by Shima Taheri

In book: Psychological TraumaEdition: Ana StarcevicPublisher: Intech Open, 2019

Abstract Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a complex disorder, with serious consequences, ... more Abstract Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a complex disorder, with serious consequences, affects the quality of life of the individual, the family, as well as the community. Therefore, the subject of this chapter is to study how to reduce stress and improve the quality of life of these people and consequently the community. This chapter is based on documentary studies including the foundations of the theory, the study of the results of experiments in the world, and case studies in this field, which shows that the interaction of individuals with PTSD and therapeutic landscapes can act as a therapeutic mechanism. In the following, features from therapeutic landscapes that help to optimize mental health levels are reviewed in people with PTSD, briefly.