The Role of Environmental Perception in the Attitudes of People in Aran and Bidgol Concerning the Presence of Afghan Migrants

While many observational studies have documented immigrant and refugee negative attitudes countries towards the perceived inadequate reception in host countries, there is paucity of literature examining how host populations, who actually bear the burden of hosting, might feel about immigrants and refugees. The aim of this descriptive-analytical study was to investigate the role of environmental perception in the attitudes of the native inhabitants of Aran o Bidgol City of Iran on the consequences of the Afghan immigrants residing in the city. Out of the total eligible universe of 97,409 citizens of the city, 300 participants have completed a questionnaire surveying their attitudes towards Afghan immigrants residing in the city. Data were analyzed using Pearson statistical tests and regression analysis. The results of the regression test indicate a meaningful relationship between the variables of economic, social, and security imbalances with the variable of participant agreement on the need to return the Afghan immigrant back to their country. While worrisome, the contributions of this study are important in raising further questions and have the potential to inform Iranian immigration policy makers.