Date of Award:

5-1980

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Sociology and Anthropology

Department name when degree awarded

Sociology

Committee Chair(s)

Yun Kim

Committee

Yun Kim

Committee

Therel R. Black

Committee

Michael B. Toney

Committee

William F. Stinner

Committee

Brian L. Pitcher

Committee

Ronald V. Canfield

Abstract

Three major socio-demographic aspects of community life were examined in nonmetropolitan Utah within the context of the post 1970's population turnaround. They are: differentials by migrant status and housing type, patterns of community satisfaction, and migration expectations and migration.

Findings indicate that groups of residents with different migrant status and/or housing type have unique patterns in socio-economic status, social integration and community attachment, and potential contributions to the community. It was argued that these phenomena can be largely explained by the exchange theory.

With respect to the pattern of community satisfaction, it was found that the mobile home dwellers' level of satisfaction is mainly affected by their assessment of the interpersonal relations and the local government of their residence community whereas the conventional-home residents' level of satisfaction is affected by multiple sources: interpersonal relations, community facilities and services, community physical appearance and local government. The major difference between the recent migrants and the established residents was properly reflected by the findings that community physical appearance is a significant cause of satisfaction among the former versus community facilities and services among the latter. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the processes of the rural revival.

Migration intention was found to be less constrained by the respondents' background characteristics and even the objective community conditions. However, when intention is transformed into action, the respondents' ability and flexibility to move, their social and economic bonds, and the objective conditions of the community, all come into effect. Housing type was also found to be interacting with migration intention in influencing migration.

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