Analysis of Rural Quality of Life and Health: A Spatial Approach

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between quality of life, health and several socioeconomic variables. The analysis utilizes empirical data obtained from a survey questionnaire administered on a random sample of over 2000 residents in twenty-one counties in West Virginia, and spatial data obtained by geocoding the survey respondents' addressees. Quality of life is measured by a three-point categorical measure of overall satisfaction and an ordered probit model is used to examine the relationships. The empirical results are consistent with the theoretical predictions and indicate, for instance, that quality of life satisfaction increases with income and education while it decreases with unemployment.

Masculinity Ideology and Subjective Well-Being in a Sample of Polish Men and Women

“…Since education is related to income (Dolan, Peasgood, & White, 2008), past research documented not only a positive relationship between education and subjective well-being, but also between income and subjective well-being (e.g., Blanchflower & Oswald, 2004; life satisfaction but not happiness in Kahneman & Deaton, 2010). In addition to these direct effects, a positive indirect effect of education on subjetive well-being via health was also found in samples from the US and Sweden (Bukenya, Gebremedhin, & Schaeffer, 2003;Gerdtham & Johannesson, 2001). Furthermore, in a sample from Latin America, a positive effect of higher eductation on overall happiness was discovered, but only if social mobility and relative economic standing were not inclueded in the analysis (Graham & Pettinato, 2001).…”

Life Satisfaction Over Time Among Rural Low-Income Mothers

“…While one would expect that mental or emotional health would be fundamental to one's SWL, the related literature was not entirely clear in this regard often due to the manner in which "health" was configured in past studies. In some of them, health was used as a single variable (Bukenya et al, 2003;Stutzer, 2004), while in others, health was considered a domain (Biswas- Diener & Diener, 2006;van Praag et al, 2002). Either way, sometimes no distinction was made between physical and mental health.…”

“…Life satisfaction in rural areas Bukenya, Gebremedhin and Schaeffer (2003) found in their study of the QOL satisfaction and health of rural residents in West Virginia that, beyond income and consumption, there were many non-economic variables that were as important to their QOL. These variables that contributed to the satisfaction or dissatisfaction with life included unemployment, health status, gender, marital status, regional differences, and education.…”

“…These variables that contributed to the satisfaction or dissatisfaction with life included unemployment, health status, gender, marital status, regional differences, and education. Bukenya et al (2003) concluded that people cannot be separated from their geography and, as a result, anti-poverty programs must be designed within the context of communities within which they reside.…”

New Resource-Wise Planning Strategies for Smart Urban-Rural Development in Finland

“…For instance, regions such as South Savo offer a wide range of recreational possibilities and socio-cultural, commercial, and public services for whole-time and part-time residents and tourists. Finally, resource-wise regions are socially inclusive, acknowledging that quality of life, people, and cultural resources are the most valuable assets in fostering creativity and innovation [14,31,32].…”