Determinants of the quality of life of rural families.
Drawing from human ecology theory, the purpose of this study was to examine socioeconomic-demographic determinants of the quality of life of rural families. In the study, computer-aided telephone interviewing via random digit dialing procedures were used to collect data in the spring of 1996. The participants included 510 rural (both farm and nonfarm) respondents. Quality of life was measured by five subscales: finances; home, family, and friends; household; community; and environment. The results of the regression analyses indicated that the independent variables--gender, race, marital status, employment status, residence, age, family income, and household size, differentially affected the quality of life subscales. Among the independent variables, household size--not a commonly used determinant in quality of life studies--was the most important predictor of subjective well-being. The findings of this study lend support for the dimensional, rather than global, measurement of subjective well-being.
School of Human Ecology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA.
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Garrison
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors