Introduction: Social interactions constitute one of the most significant dimensions of collective life in urban open spaces and play a crucial role in enhancing vitality, presence, and the overall quality of users’ spatial experience. However, the mere existence of open spaces or physical facilities does not necessarily lead to the formation of social interactions. Previous studies have demonstrated that such interactions emerge through the relationship between spatial characteristics, environmental conditions, and users’ perceptions of space. Accordingly, contemporary research has shifted its focus from purely physical analyses of space toward the investigation of perceptual constructs influencing social interactions. A previous study conducted by the author showed that social interactions in urban open spaces can be conceptualized through three principal constructs: presence, sociability, and environmental quality. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how these constructs influence one another and whether they may perform reinforcing or compensatory roles. Therefore, the present study, with an emphasis on users’ perceptual data, investigates the interrelationships among these three constructs. The primary aim of this paper is to explain the mechanisms through which these indicators contribute to the formation of social interactions in urban open spaces.
Materials and Methods: The present study is applied in terms of purpose and quantitative–analytical in terms of nature and methodology. The conceptual framework of the research is based on the findings of the author’s previous study, which identified presence, sociability, and environmental quality as the principal constructs underlying social interactions in urban open spaces. Research data were collected through a structured questionnaire and field surveys conducted in three different locations within an urban park in the city of Borujerd and were analyzed using SPSS software. Multiple linear regression and interaction effect analyses were employed to investigate not only the direct effects of the indicators, but also the combined and synergistic effects of these constructs on the formation of social interactions.
Results and Discussion: The findings revealed that the role of perceptual constructs in shaping social interactions is dependent upon the spatial context of each location. In the first location, presence and sociability emerged as two independent factors exerting the strongest influence on social interactions. In the second location, the interaction effect between these two indicators became the most significant factor explaining social interactions. In the third location, presence—manifested through spatial depth—together with climatic conditions, played the dominant role in the formation of social interactions, while the influence of sociability diminished.
Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that social interactions in urban open spaces are not the result of the independent influence of a single factor; rather, they depend on the way perceptual constructs interact within different spatial contexts. The results revealed that the roles of presence, sociability, and environmental quality vary across different spatial situations and shape diverse patterns of social interaction. It was also found that presence can enhance social interactions through two distinct pathways: accessibility and seclusion. Accordingly, social interactions are a context-dependent phenomenon shaped by the relationship between spatial organization, users’ perceptions, and environmental conditions; therefore, enhancing social interactions requires a context-sensitive approach that simultaneously considers spatial qualities, perceptual experiences, and users’ behavioral patterns.