Relationships of number and type of extension contacts and demographic characteristics of Tennessee homemakers to selected income and security variables

The major purpose of this study was to show the relationship of the number and type of Extension contacts and demographic characteristics of the survey respondents to selected income and security variables. Those included feelings of financial security, possession of a will, and use of money saving activities.

The 1983 Family Resource Management Survey was used in interviews with respondents. Respondents were randomly selected from Extension mailing and membership lists or other public listings of homemakers.

The Chi square value was used to determine the strength of the relationship while the probability level was used to determine the significance of relationships between variables. The .05 level of probability was accepted as being statistically significant. Computations of data were made at the University of Tennessee Computing Center.

Major findings included the following:

1. As all types of Extension contacts listed including meetings, phone calls, visits, newsletters, and publications increased, feelings of financial security, possession of a will, and use of money saving activities increased.

2. Home Demonstration Club Members and HDCM who were also special interest members were more likely to possess a will and use money saving activities than were other Extension audience members.

3. Persons, both married and single, without children at home felt more financially secure and were more likely to have a will than were persons with children at home, while married persons were more likely than singles to use money saving activities.

4. Retired persons and couples with one employed spouse had greater feelings of financial security than other groups, while retired persons were most likely to have a will and married couples with one employed spouse used more money saving activities.

5. College educated persons were more likely to feel financially secure and to have a will than were persons with a high school or less education or vocational training.

6. Persons under 35 years of age felt less financially secure than those over 35, while those aged 35 to 54 used more money saving activities and older persons were more likely to have a will.

7. Urban and suburban residents were most likely to have a will while rural farm dwellers used more money saving activities.

8. Female respondents reported greater feelings of financial security and were more likely to have a will than were male respondents.

9. Low income persons felt less financially security, were less likely to have a will, and used fewer money saving activities than did middle and high income respondents. Implications were drawn and recommendations for Extension programming and further research were made.