ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607220083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WREITER
HOW'S YOUR quality of life? Here's what Virginia Tech found when its pollsters asked people living across the state ... .
Virginians aren't quite whistling "don't worry, be happy." But we come mighty close.
A statewide poll conducted by Virginia Tech's research arm finds Virginians a pretty happy lot, even if we do have some nagging concerns about making do financially.
The survey took the pulse of 1,168 Virginians on a range of "quality of life" matters. A quick run-down of the highlights:
WHAT WE'RE HAPPY WITH: HEARTH AND HOME
The poll found we're incredibly happy with our family, friends and communities:
* 78 percent of us are "very satisfied" with our family relationships.
* 64 percent of us are "very satisfied" with our friendships.
* And 63 percent of us are "very satisfied" with the communities we live in.
Heck, we're even happy with our jobs, although not quite to the same degree:
* 51 percent of us are "very satisfied" with our most recent jobs.
WHAT WE WORRY ABOUT: MONEY
Even though most of us think Virginia is a pretty good place to find a job, and most of us think the state's economy is improving, a lot of Virginians still worry that things might suddenly get worse, at least for them.
* While 58 percent of us "rarely" or "never" worry that a family member will lose a job, 41 percent of us worry about this "often" or "sometimes" - a fear that's more pronounced among women than men and among those without a college degree more than those with their sheepskin.
Health care is an even bigger worry for many Virginians - and once more, women are more likely to face these fears than men, and those without a college degree are more likely to be concerned than those who went to college.
* 47 percent of us "often" or "sometimes" worry that a family member will have a serious illness that's not covered by insurance; 52 percent of us "rarely" or "never" worry about this.
* 48 percent of us "often" or "sometimes" worry that we'll have to care for a sick relative; 51 percent "rarely" or "never" worry about this - essentially an even split, given the poll's margin of error of just less than 3 percentage points.
The Tech survey, the fifth such "quality of life" poll it has conducted, contains a wealth of other insights into what's on Virginians' minds. Each day, for the next two weeks, we'll present a snapshot of the poll results in the Virginia section of The Roanoke Times.
Coming tomorrow: What Virginians think the state is spending too much money on - or not enough money on.
Virginia Tech Quality of Life Survey
VIRGINIA, WHERE THE LIVING IS EASY
Most Virginians - 87% - think the Old Dominion is a good or excellent place to live, vacation or retire - although our enthusiasm varies greatly depending on where we live, how old we are and what gender we are.
How would you rate Virginia as an overall place to live?
Statewide
Excellent 37%
Good 50%
Fair 12%
Poor 1%
Virginians who live outside the urban crescent, women, and Virginians over 40 are the most likely to consider the state an "excellent" place to live.
Percentage of those who said Virginia was an "excellent" place to live
Urban crescent 33%
Rest of state 42%
Men 32%
Women 42%
Under 40 29% 40 or older 43%
Likewise, most folks - 80% - think Virginia is a good or excellent place to take a vacation.
How would you rate Virginia as a place to take a vacation?
Statewide
Excellent 39%
Good 41%
Fair 14%
Poor 6%
Those most likely to give Virginia the highest marks as a vacation spot are women and Virginians over 40
Percentage who ranked Virginia as an "excellent" place to take a vacation.
men women under 40 40 or older
Men 34%
Women 44%
Under 40 32%
40 or older 44%
Most Virginians - 76% - also think the Old Dominion is a good or excellent place to retire.
How would you rate Virginia as a place to settle down and retire?
Statewide
Excellent 34%
Good 42%
Fair 14%
Poor 4%
Who's most likely to consider Virginia an "excellent" place to retire? Folks who live outside the urban crescent.
Percentage of Virginians who said Virginia is an excellent place to settle down and retire.
Urban crescent 28%<
Rest of state 42%
Virginia Tech's Center for Survey Research polled 1,168 adult Virginians between April 21-May 22. The margin of error is 2.9 percent. Numbers may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.
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