The purpose of this study was to determine what levels of community satisfaction
and personal and household characteristics would result in a model of retirees and pre-retirees
and their propensity to move. This study assessed the relationship between certain
socio-demographic variables and feelings of overall satisfaction as well as satisfaction with
specific aspects of their current community. Community size and tenure, preferred
community size, and the preference of staying or moving were also explored. Satisfaction
was measured by both a global question of satisfaction and through the construction of a
Community Satisfaction Scale (CSS) and three subscales.
A hypothesized model was tested using logistic regression. Age, gender, duration
in community, agreement between current and preferred community size (metropolitan or
nonmetropolitan), overall satisfaction, and satisfaction with quality of life factors in the
community and environmental quality were statistically significant in the prediction of
likelihood of moving at retirement.
Variables, some of which were significantly related to the dependent variable in
preliminary analyses (chi-square and t-tests), that were not found to be significant in the
logistic regression model of the propensity to move were: education, marital status,
employment, household size, health, previous moving experiences, and the subscale
community safety. Three measures of personal and household economic resources were
also not found to be significant.
According to final model in this study, in the sample of 50 to 70 years in Idaho,
Nevada, and Wyoming, those who were younger, had lived in the community fewer years,
were living in a community size not in agreement with the stated size of community they
preferred, and were male were more likely to response a preference to move. The results
indicate small-urban and semi-rural communities are the most preferred places to move.
The open areas outside the incorporated towns and cities were most favored locations.
A benefit of elderly migration research in the past, discussed at length in the review
of the literature, is that retirees bring with them to the community the benefits described as
the "mail box economy." Understanding the levels of satisfaction of current residents ages
50 to 70 may be as important as policies to attract new inmigrants. / Graduation date: 1995
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/34983 |
| Date | 20 February 1995 |
| Creators | Fox, Linda Kirk |
| Contributors | Olson, Geraldine |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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