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Community, Health, and Family

The Relationships Among Demographic Characteristics, Financial Hardship and Quality of Community Life in the Post-pandemic Southern U. S Shari Moxley*, M. E. Betsy Garrison,

Efforts to advance rural justice increasingly emphasize the need to understand how structural inequalities shape both economic resilience and community well-being in rural and non‑rural places. This study examines how demographic characteristics and financial hardship shape perceptions of community quality in the post‑pandemic Southern United States. Rising inflation and economic disruption since 2021 have intensified financial strain, particularly among rural residents, low‑income households, racial minorities, and non‑coupled individuals. Using data from the SR‑Stat: Baseline Survey 2024, responses from adults across 13 Southern states were analyzed to assess whether financial hardship predicts perceived quality of community life more strongly than demographic characteristics. Quality of community life (QoCL) was measured using a 16‑item scale, while financial hardship was assessed through self-reported difficulty paying household bills. Multiple regression analyses showed that demographic variables including age, education, marital status, race, sex, employment status, and residence were associated with financial hardship and QoCL. Younger respondents with higher levels of education reported less financial hardship, while rural, non‑coupled, and non‑working individuals were more likely to experience it. When predicting QoCL, demographic characteristics were significant, but the inclusion of financial hardship improved model fit. Financial hardship emerged as having the strongest association, indicating that economic strain plays a central role in shaping how residents evaluate their communities. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at strengthening household financial resilience, such as financial education, emergency support, and employment assistance, may yield broader community‑level benefits. Addressing financial hardship directly may improve both individual well‑being and collective perceptions of community quality in the Southern U.S.