Abstract
A resource exchange theory for the development of perceptual indicators of quality of family life is presented with empirical evidence to test the theory. The theory specifies six classes of resources: love, status, services, information, goods and money, as necessary to maintain some level of life quality. The first three are the most dependent on the particular people involved in the exchange relationship and the interpersonal exchanges of these resources offer opportunities for highest levels of satisfaction. It was hypothesized (1) that feelings about the particularistic resources received from family would significantly contribute to family life satisfaction for men and women; (2) that the order of resource classes on the particularism dimension would correspond to the order of their effectiveness in contributing to family life satisfaction. Results of the study support the theoretical model and hypotheses and suggest that further research with respondents of differing life circumstances is needed. The need for indicators of quality of family life in quality of life research is emphasized.
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The research reported in this paper was part of Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Project Numbers: 1249 ‘Clothing Use and Quality of Life in Rural and Urban Communities’ and 3151, ‘Families in Evolving Rural Communities’. Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station Project Number: 53-086 ‘Clothing Use and Quality of Life in Rural and Urban Communities’. Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Manuscript Publication No. 10368.
The authors wish to thank Jan Vredevoogd and Nancie Metzger for their assistance in the preparation of this paper. We are also indebted to Dr. Frances Magrabi and Dr. M. Suzanne Sontag for helpful comments on an earlier draft.
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Rettig, K.D., Bubolz, M.M. Perceptual indicators of family well-being. Soc Indic Res 12, 417–438 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300447
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300447