Ageing in Rural Communities

Family Contacts and Community Integration

Bibliographic Data

ID11199833
AuthorsG Clare Wenger (University College of the North, corresponding author)
Year1982
Volume2
Issue2
Pages211-229
Publication date1982-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x00009430
OpenAlexW2132419969
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited24

Based on a study of the elderly in rural communities, the paper makes comparisons with data from more urban studies in the U.K. The findings indicate that while availability of and contact with family members is comparable, satisfaction with the amount of contact is considerably higher in the rural context. This higher level of satisfaction holds even for retired migrants who have less contact. It is suggested that satisfaction may be higher because needs for contact are met by a greater variety of other forms of association and support. The data demonstrate that the rural elderly do in fact have higher levels of contact with neighbours; are more likely to belong to voluntary associations; are more likely to belong to a religious group and to be visited by the clergy, and are more likely to become involved in sparetime activities which enhance the likelihood for social contact. Dependency on family, therefore, appears to be lower. While rural communities do not appear to preserve family cohesion, opportunities for community integration are enhanced and are reflected in higher levels of satisfaction

Cohesion (chemistry) · Community cohesion · Context (archaeology) · Demographic economics · Geography · Political science · Rural area · Rural community · Social contact · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Voluntary association · Health disparities and outcomes · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology