SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SEVERELY MENTALLY-ILL CLIENTS IN RURAL AND URBAN COUNTIES

Sociodemographic differences between rural and urban clients with seve re mental illness (SMI) are explored using approaches which extend res earch in this area beyond limitations found in the few existing studie s. Sixteen hundred adult clients from 18 Wisconsin counties are classi fied according to the degree of rurality of their counties of residenc e, using two definitions: a dichotomous metropolitan-nonmetropolitan g rouping and population density. There are significant differences betw een rural and urban clients for age, gender, and marital status, but n ot education or income. Young (18-35 years), unmarried males are more likely to live in more densely populated counties. Older (65 and older ) women who are currently or previously married are more likely to liv e in less densely populated counties.