Networks, Community, and Rural Out-migration.

Isolated rural communities are vulnerable to population loss. Using survey data collected in a small Northern Ontario community, we consider the extent to which personal social networks and perceptions of community factor into respondents' intentions to leave the community within the next five years using logistic regression analysis. We considered the number of "very close" contacts in participants' networks, the total number of alters (defined as "somewhat" and "very" close contacts), the number of contacts living at a distance but within Canada, and alters who had recently left the town. Membership in a voluntary organization, frequency of organizational participation, having a regular hangout, availability of advice, frequency of unplanned visits, and perceived sense of community were also explored. Supporting previous research, age is consistently negatively associated with intention to leave. Reporting that advice was available from other community members was significantly and negatively related to out-migration intentions. Implications of out-migration for isolated and rural communities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]