Barriers to Community Involvement across Rural and Urban Communities

Abstract

Many communities emphasize participatory involvement in local development or reinvention efforts. Recognizing barriers among specific groups could help community leaders identify what may be constraining underrepresented groups from joining in. Utilizing data from the Social Capital Benchmark Survey, this research examined identified “barriers” to community involvement among individuals in rural and urban areas. Results indicated that while rurality reduced perceived obstacles among the general population, particular characteristics uniquely impact the way individuals identify barriers to community involvement within rural and urban places. This analysis not only identifies targeted barriers for communities to address, but also highlights areas where further placebased research could be beneficial.