The influence of community attachment on geographic mobility

The effects of community attachment on geographic mobility are examined based on data on heads of households' perceptions about their community collected in a 1970 survey of 3,101 Wash state residents. A 1974 follow-up determined whether respondents had moved from their communities. Past research shortcomings were overcome by measuring community attachment before rather than after the actual move, & by measuring actual mobility instead of Rs' expectations of moving. Contingency analysis shows that both community identification & satisfaction are associated with mobility. When controls on age are made, the retarding effect of both variables on mobility remains, though not as strongly & with important exceptions, notably: (1) identification does not affect adults in their most important years of occupational achievement-ages 30 to 45, & (2) a behavioral measure of community attachment-membership in voluntary associations-shows that membership retards mobility, but when age is controlled, the effect exists only for those adults beyond the 30-45 age category. Partial correlation analysis with age, years in county, community size, sex, career, family, & household ties as controls shows that community satisfaction influences mobility behavior except for those aged over 60. Partial associations for other community attachment indicators were not significant. 5 Tables. Modified HA.