Michael B. Toney

Religion and attitudes toward the environment: a comparison of Mormons and the general U.S. population.

Abstract Religion has been shown to influence attitudes toward an array of social issues. This manuscript focuses specifically on environmental issues, with empirical examination of the distinctiveness of contemporary Mormon environmental perspectives as contrasted with the general U.S. population. A belief in the importance of dominion over the environment is noted, by some, to be reflected in anti-environmental stance characterizing Mormon Culture Region political leaders and church members [Foltz, R. C. (2000). Mormon values and the Utah environment. Worldviews: Environment, Culture, Religion, 4, 1–19]. Yet, a set of highly regarded essays by a diverse group of Mormons, including some in church leadership positions, expresses strong personal commitments to environmental causes and point to Mormon teachings and doctrines promoting environmentalism (Williams, Smith, and Gibbs, 1998). We examine variation in environmental concern as expressed by Mormons in a local community survey undertaken in Logan, Utah, as contrasted with the nationally-representative General Social Survey (1993). We find substantial differences between Mormons and the national sample; While Mormons tended to express greater levels of environmental concern, they were less likely to have undertaken specific behaviors reflective of such concern.

Length of residence, social ties, and economic opportunities,.

This study examines length of residence for movers—that subsection of the population which accounts for the high mobility rates in the United States. The propensity for repeated migration is studied in relation to economic opportunities and previous familial and personal contacts. The results indicate no influence of economic opportunities on duration of residence. This finding is consistent with recent research that indicates economic conditions are not a general stimulus for out-migration, although they are for in-migration. On the other hand, length of residence is found to be longer where previous familial and personal contacts existed. Overall, the results provide additional evidence of the importance of social, as opposed to strictly economic, variables in the migration process.

Regional cultures, persistence and change: a case study of the Mormon Culture Region

Abstract There are at least two gaps in the literature on culture regions: (1) little research on regions other than the South, and (2) a lack of examination of regional distinctiveness across time. In addition, existing research provides contradictory conclusions regarding the perpetuation of culture regions; some results suggest modernization forces are obliterating regional distinctiveness, while other studies point to the endurance of differences. Making use of data reflecting 24 socioeconomic characteristics across the period 1950–1990, we find that the Mormon Culture Region (MCR) remained distinct from the United States as a whole, and was even more distinct in 1990 than in 1950. We believe our socioeconomic indicators represent important dimensions of regions, and are linked to the subjective identities that tend to be the focal point in analyses of culture regions. Additional research on other regions is needed to fully explain regional differences, as well as to adequately interpret results obtained when regional indicators are incorporated into empirical social research.

The simultaneous examination of economic and social factors in destination selection: Employing objective and subjective measures

This research examines the role of social and economic factors in the past selection of destinations made by migrants living in Rhode Island. Results indicate that social ties playa more important role in the selection of destinations with low levels of opportunity than they do in the movement to high opportunity areas. An important aspect of the study was the simultaneous investigation of both objective and subjective measures of social and economic factors in the selection of low and high growth destinations. The analysis suggests that the simultaneous consideration of objective and subjective factors provides a more refined accounting of the potential influence of social and economic factors in the selection of destinations. The findings hold when age is introduced as a control.

Consanguinity and child mortality: The risk faced by families

Previous research reveals that the characteristics and practices of a childs family are important determinants of its chances of surviving beyond childhood. This study investigates the effects of consanguinity on a familys odds of experiencing the death of a child in Pakistan, a society in which marriage among close relatives is common. Analysis of data from the 1991 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey reveals that first cousin marriages increase a couples risk of enduring the death of one or more of their children. These couples are 1.18 times as likely to have a child die by its fifth birthday than couples not related by blood net of other factors associated with child mortality. Elimination of first cousin marriages would contribute to a modest decrease in the proportion of Pakistani families suffering the death of a child.

Residence exposure and fertility expectations of young Mormon and non-Mormon women in Utah.

This study investigates the role of residence and religion on fertility rates. Fertility expectations of Mormon and non-Moromon females were obtained from a 1980 survey of Utahs high school seniors and compared with expectations for the nations seniors. Additional data came from a 1979 National Longitudinal Study (NLS) and from the 1980 Current Population Survey (CPS) which cover information on fertility expectations. Age marital status education and religion. The researchers found the fertility expectations of Utahs young non-Mormon females to be closer to those of nationwide females than to those of Utahs Mormon women. The average number of children expected by the states non-Mormons is 2.46 compared with 2.39 and 2.1 for the NLS and CPS samples respectively while young Mormon women average 4.46. There is a significant difference between Utahs Mormon and non-Mormon females: close to 50% of non-Mormons in Utah and the population-at-large expect to have 2 children while greater than 60% expect less than 2. For Mormons less than 20% expect 2 or fewer children. Mormon women outside the Utah area also demonstrate a pattern of fertility expectation greater than the national average. The results do not imply a significant residence effect on fertility but do suggest the high fertility expectations of Utahs Mormon women may reflect a selective immigration of religious Mormons into that area.

Patterns of migration propensity for black and white American men. Evidence from a cohort analysis.

This study investigates age, period, and cohort patterns of migration for blacks and whites by applying cohort analysis models to panel data from the young male and older male samples of the National Longitudinal Surveys. The simultaneous inclusion of these four variables represents an important refinement of previous studies that have considered only one or two of them at a time. Principal findings are that age, period, and cohort have independent effects on migration and that the effects differ markedly by race. These findings have significant implications for the development of causal models of migration.

The population debate: A survey of opinions of a professional organization's membership

In analyzing results of a survey concerning population issues taken among members of an organization devoted to the scientific study of population, namely, the Population Association of America, we found high agreement that: (1) world population growth was much too high, (2) many of todays serious problems are caused by overpopulation, and (3) the U.S. should help any requesting country establish programs to curtail growth. There was no consensus, however, on issues such as: (1) ideal population size, (2) family planning as the most reasonable means of reducing population growth, (3) the need to initiate coercive birth control immediately, (4) redistribution of resources as a long-term solution to overpopulation, (5) how to solve population problems in time to avoid widespread catastrophe, and (6) whether the U.S. should exert pressure on other countries to establish a family planning program as a prerequisite to economic aid. These findings apply with few exceptions to four subcategories of members defined on the basis of extent of demographic training and employment.

Geographic mobility and locus of control.

Migrants and nonmigrants are often alleged to differ on numerous psychological traits; little empirical analysis, however, has examined this possibility. This study examined the hypothesis that geographic mobility is associated with locus of control, a key dimension of the self-concept. No relationships between these variables were uncovered for a national sample of older white men.

Discriminators of migration propensity among black and white men in the middle and later years.

The objective of this research is to increase our understanding of racial variations in the correlates of migration propensity among men passing through their middle and later years. An analytical model is developed around environmental disamenities, socioeconomic bonds, personal resources, and age. The results suggest the importance of determining the extent to which selected variables differentially discriminate migrants from nonmigrants dependent on race.