귀농인들의 귀농 전과 후 지각된 삶의 질 수준의 비교 연구

(The Study of Comparison in Perceived Quality of Life Before and After Returning to the Rural Areas)

This study compared perceived quality of life before and after returning to the rural areas among returners. Specifically, the study explores 1) whether returning residents perceived better their quality of life after returning to the rural areas and which part of quality of life improved after returning the rural areas, 2) which factors affect on whether returning residents perceive their life quality better. The self-administrated survey was conducted and total of 660 returners to the rural areas are included for statistical analysis. The descriptive statistics, One-way MANOVA, Paired sample T-test, Independent sample T-test and Logit Model were used. The results showed that generally, returners to the rural areas perceived better after retuning to the rural areas compared to before returning to the rural areas. Excluding local environment, the returners perceived better the quality of life in 7 parts including health, emotion, economy, self-respect, family life, social life, a corporate life. The respondents perceived worse their quality of life in local environment. Among four groups based on income, highest income group perceived worse after returning to the rural areas compared to before return. In general, the level of improvement in perceived quality of life among I-turn type returners was lower than that among U-turn type and J-turn type returners. Furthermore, the longer years of rural life after returning brought out the lower level of perceived quality of life.