• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.69-81
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to examine the healthy degree of the rural families and the variables that affect it, as well as the differences between husband and wife perceptions on the healthiness of rural families. One hundred and ninety six couples (three hundred and ninety two individuals) were surveyed for this study The following findings were obtained from the analysis of the data. First, the degree of the healthiness of rural families was quantified as about 71 points out of 100 possible maximum points. Second, family type ($\beta$=.17), the wife's self-esteem ($\beta$ =.22), the husband's self-esteem ($\beta$ =.17), wife's marital satisfaction ($\beta$ =.32), and husband's marital satisfaction ($\beta$=.15) were the only variables that significantly affected the healthiness of rural families. Third, social-psychological variables (for example, self-esteem and marital satisfaction of the couple) had more explanatory power than material and farming-related variables. From the results of this study, it is suggested that in order to enhance the healthiness of rural families, systematic educational programs that can improve social-psychological interactions among family members should be developed.