Family change and community life

Abstract

According to the decline thesis, the changes that have occurred within family life have undermined community life. Using data from a national random survey of Australian adults we explore this claim in the Australian context. We develop a series of hierarchical regression models to examine how non-traditional family forms and values relate to community life, measured through community group membership, trust and reciprocity. Our findings provide some support for the decline thesis for men. For women, we find more evidence that family change is unrelated, or positively related, to community life. As a counterpoint, we find that non-traditional attitudes to family roles and relationships are related to high levels of community engagement, trust and reciprocity, for men and women.

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