RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ADOLESCENTS IN A RURAL WEST TEXAS COMMUNITY

Abstract

Agricultural educators have long had an interest in the viability of rural schools. At least part of this interest can be attributed to the large number of secondary programs located in rural school districts. In this study, the researchers examined the relationships between a composite quality of life measure, perceived control over one’s quality of life, and perceived opportunities for the improvement in one’s quality of life and students’ gender, family socioeconomic status, and number of children and adults residing in the household. The literature indicates that quality of life is associated with various student performance indicators. Findings showed as family socioeconomic status increased, overall quality of life, control, and opportunities also increased. The additional demographic variables included in the study did not have a consistent influence upon the students’ quality of life as measured by the three indicators. In formulating hypotheses, the researchers treated the three components of quality of life as a "bundle" in relation to the ethnicity, livelihood, and household composition variables of interest. If anything, the data have indicated that there is a great deal of variability in the three components based upon these measured variables.