Citation

Simons RL, Johnson C, Conger RD, Lorenz FO. Rural Sociol. (1936) 1997; 62(2): 207-230.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Rural Sociological Society, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1549-0831.1997.tb00651.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Virtually all past studies of the effect of community context on families and children have focused on large metropolitan communities. Using a sample of divorced women living in small, Midwestern communities, the present study tests a model of the processes whereby community structure influences parenting practices. Results obtained through structural equation modeling supported the hypotheses. High concentrations of disadvantaged people within a community were indirectly related to parenting through community social disorganization. Community social disorganization had a direct effect on quality of parenting, as well as indirect effects through negative events, access to social support, and depressed mood. The various methodological and theoretical implications of these findings are considered.

Language: en