Attachments to Family and Community and the Young Adult Transition of Rural Youth

Citation

Johnson, Monica Kirkpatrick; Elder, Glen H., Jr.; & Stern, Michael (2005). Attachments to Family and Community and the Young Adult Transition of Rural Youth. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 15(1), 99-125.

Abstract

Rural youth in economically troubled regions develop plans for their future in a context in which opportunities for educational and occupational success generally lie elsewhere, prompting the need to migrate. This study investigates the links between rural adolescents' residential preferences and their plans for the future, perceptions of local opportunity, and ties to family and community. We examine whether residential preferences shape the pathways to adulthood through decisions about where to live as well as educational and occupational attainments. Residential preferences are indeed related to adolescents' academic achievements and future educational plans, their relationships with parents, and perceptions of local job opportunities, but they are not associated with family socioeconomic background and social ties to the community. For the most part, residential preferences are linked to where young people live and pursue higher education in the years after high school, but generally not to their socioeconomic attainment.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2005.00088.x

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2005

Journal Title

Journal of Research on Adolescence

Author(s)

Johnson, Monica Kirkpatrick
Elder, Glen H., Jr.
Stern, Michael