Desert Ecotherapy Planning from the Perspective of Healing Silence in Iranian Ecosystems (Case Study: Shahdad Desert)

Empty spaces are never truly empty; they are replete with possibilities if humans learn how to inhabit them. Presence in natural landscapes is significantly linked to the reduction of depressive symptoms, anxiety mitigation, and the improvement of mood indicators. Due to their distinct characteristics—such as profound silence, boundless horizons, and the absence of chaotic urban stimuli—deserts serve as ideal environments for psychological restoration. This study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to investigate desert ecotherapy planning through the lens of healing silence within Iranian ecosystems. Data were collected via library research and fieldwork. Data analysis was conducted using the Delphi method, one-sample T-test, and path analysis within the DPSIR framework, processed via SPSS software. The findings indicate that among the driving force components, “desert tourism development (growth of experiential tourism)” received the highest score. In the impacts component, “a sense of freedom and reduction of enclosure” ranked highest. In the pressure component, “excessive density” was the dominant factor, while in the responses component, “temporal and spatial management of presence” held the highest score. Regarding the state component, “horizon extent (openness of space)” was the most significant factor. Furthermore, the relationships between the components of the DPSIR model reveal the strongest positive and direct correlation between driving forces and pressures, with a coefficient of 0.756, implying that as demand and driving factors increase, structural pressures on the environment escalate significantly. Finally, according to the structural equation modeling output, the “driving force” index, with a standardized beta coefficient of 3.835, has the most significant impact on desert ecotherapy planning in Iran.Empty spaces are never truly empty; they are replete with possibilities if humans learn how to inhabit them. Presence in natural landscapes is significantly linked to the reduction of depressive symptoms, anxiety mitigation, and the improvement of mood indicators. Due to their distinct characteristics—such as profound silence, boundless horizons, and the absence of chaotic urban stimuli—deserts serve as ideal environments for psychological restoration. This study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to investigate desert ecotherapy planning through the lens of healing silence within Iranian ecosystems. Data were collected via library research and fieldwork. Data analysis was conducted using the Delphi method, one-sample T-test, and path analysis within the DPSIR framework, processed via SPSS software. The findings indicate that among the driving force components, “desert tourism development (growth of experiential tourism)” received the highest score. In the impacts component, “a sense of freedom and reduction of enclosure” ranked highest. In the pressure component, “excessive density” was the dominant factor, while in the responses component, “temporal and spatial management of presence” held the highest score. Regarding the state component, “horizon extent (openness of space)” was the most significant factor. Furthermore, the relationships between the components of the DPSIR model reveal the strongest positive and direct correlation between driving forces and pressures, with a coefficient of 0.756, implying that as demand and driving factors increase, structural pressures on the environment escalate significantly. Finally, according to the structural equation modeling output, the “driving force” index, with a standardized beta coefficient of 3.835, has the most significant impact on desert ecotherapy planning in Iran.Empty spaces are never truly empty; they are replete with possibilities if humans learn how to inhabit them. Presence in natural landscapes is significantly linked to the reduction of depressive symptoms, anxiety mitigation, and the improvement of mood indicators. Due to their distinct characteristics—such as profound silence, boundless horizons, and the absence of chaotic urban stimuli—deserts serve as ideal environments for psychological restoration. This study employs a descriptive-analytical approach to investigate desert ecotherapy planning through the lens of healing silence within Iranian ecosystems. Data were collected via library research and fieldwork. Data analysis was conducted using the Delphi method, one-sample T-test, and path analysis within the DPSIR framework, processed via SPSS software. The findings indicate that among the driving force components, “desert tourism development (growth of experiential tourism)” received the highest score. In the impacts component, “a sense of freedom and reduction of enclosure” ranked highest. In the pressure component, “excessive density” was the dominant factor, while in the responses component, “temporal and spatial management of presence” held the highest score. Regarding the state component, “horizon extent (openness of space)” was the most significant factor. Furthermore, the relationships between the components of the DPSIR model reveal the strongest positive and direct correlation between driving forces and pressures, with a coefficient of 0.756, implying that as demand and driving factors increase, structural pressures on the environment escalate significantly. Finally, according to the structural equation modeling output, the “driving force” index, with a standardized beta coefficient of 3.835, has the most significant impact on desert ecotherapy planning in Iran.