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Hardship in the Heartland: Associations Between Rurality, Income, and Material Hardship
Aislinn Conrad1, Megan Ronnenberg1
1School of Social Work The University of Iowa.
Rural Sociology
|October 17, 2022
Summary
Material hardship affects one in three U.S. households. This study reveals rurality and low income increase odds of material hardship, impacting basic needs like food and healthcare.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Rural Health
Background:
- Material hardship, defined as the inadequate provision of basic needs, affects a significant portion of U.S. households.
- While disparities in hardship are noted for households with children or persons of color, less is understood about its prevalence in rural settings.
- Understanding material hardship is crucial for public health and socioeconomic policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of material hardship in Iowa.
- To investigate the relationship between rurality, income, and material hardship.
- To identify key demographic predictors of material hardship in a diverse sample.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2016 State Innovation Model Statewide Consumer Survey.
- Employed logistic regression analysis to examine associations between variables.
- Focused on four distinct forms of material hardship.
Main Results:
- Rural respondents had lower odds of experiencing material hardship compared to non-rural respondents.
- Lower income was significantly associated with greater odds of material hardship across all models.
- Rurality, income, race, and age were identified as strong predictors of material hardship.
Conclusions:
- Material hardship is a widespread issue in Iowa, affecting various demographic groups.
- Rural populations and those with lower incomes face elevated risks of material hardship.
- Targeted interventions addressing socioeconomic factors are needed to mitigate material hardship.
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