DESCRIPTORS

Researchers used data from a 1981 questionnaire _survey of 248 heads of household in 3 Prississippi counties to examine efficient predictors of community and life satisfaction in rural Mississippi. Analyzing the impact of 43 variables on 25 questionnaire items concerning community satisfaction, researchers found 13 significant predictors of community satisfaction. Classifying the variables by nature, researchers found that race emerged as the best predictor of community satisfaction, followed by life satisfaction, political participation, personal satisfaction, and positive self-respect. Except for race, socioeconomic and demographic variables were not efficient yiredictors of community satisfaction in rural Mississippi. To determine predictors of life satisfaction, researchers studied responses to S1 questionnaire items plus scores for community satisfaction and consumer behavior. They found that age was the only significant predictor of life satisfaction, which was stable over time in rural Mississippi. Sociopsychological factors and personality had a more powerful influence than material or economic factors on life satisfaction. The results implied that while economic well-being is necessw.-y for a modern style of living, it is not a sufficient factor in life satisfaction. The complete questionnaire is included.-SW DOCUMENT RESUM