Residents’ Social Interactions in Market Square and Its Impact on Community Well-Being

This study aims at ameliorating the associated challenges emanated from the
ineffective planning, management and design of market square as well as
appraisal of the interactions among people of diverse ethnicity. Hence, the study
explores users’ interactions and activities within three markets square in rural
neighborhoods of South-west, Nigeria. The significant relationship between
resident’s interactions and the community well-being was explored.
Consequently, this study highlights the influence of the market square as a typical
neighborhood open space on residents’ well-being. The study’s quantitative
approach encircled the purposive structured survey questionnaire data obtained
from Yorubas, Hausas, and Ibos respondents (n=382); and analyzed by SPSS
statistical package (version 22). Meanwhile, the qualitative data included
observation of various activity pattern among the three ethnic groups. The study’s
findings revealed that an improvement in the market square quality becomes
necessary in order to increase residents’ interactions and well-being. Also, the
study elucidates the appropriate link between the built environment, residents’
interactions, and well-being. It is concluded that residents’ well-being is a
reflection of an experience manifested within the interplay of individuals and
groups’ social interactions. This study of people and place relationships could
better equip the professionals in the built environment on the importance of
creating a sustainable open space towards improving residents’ well-being and
rural community revitalization efforts.
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY URBAN AFFAIRS (2018) 2(2), 24-32.
https://doi.org/10.25034/ijcua.2018.3668