Demographic Determinants of Perceived Barriers to Community Involvement: Examining Rural/Urban Differences

Communities all rely to some degree on residents to serve in and lead the local organizations that make those communities vital. Recognizing barriers experienced by specific groups helps community leaders identify why various groups do not participate. Using data from the 2000 Social Capital Benchmark Survey, this analysis examines perceived barriers to community involvement among individuals in rural and urban areas. Findings are generally consistent with earlier research into volunteer behavior, but, among several unexpected findings, we note that parents and employed people are more likely to lack the information they think they need, and minority group members, net of other characteristics, feel unwelcomed and ineffective. Patterns sometimes differ for rural and urban places, particularly when comparing men and women. The results highlight barriers that community leaders can seek to reduce and suggest areas where further place-based research could be beneficial.