Roundup: January 30, 2026
A regular feature of The Rural Review, these roundup posts collect notable recent research, analysis, and related rural news and commentary. Feel free to send suggestions for future collections to us here. And, more details on other opportunities to contribute to the Rural Review can be found here.
Recent Publications
Alba Carrasco Cruz, Fátima Cruz-Souza (both Psychology, University of Valladolid, Spain), and Gustavo González-Calvo (Didactics of Musical, Artistic and Physical Expression, University of Valladolid, Spain) published Roots of Rural Youth: A Five-Year Systematic Review of Place Attachment in Social Sciences, exploring recent English- and Spanish-language scientific literature addressing how place attachment among rural youth affects decisions to stay, leave, or return to rural areas.
Rural-Urban Residence and Life Expectancies With and Without Pain by Feinuo Sun (Kinesiology, University of Texas at Arlington), Zachary Zimmer (Global Aging and Community Initiative, Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada), and Nicolas Brouard (Mortality Health and Epidemiology, French Institute for Demographic Studies) was published in Health & Place. The study finds that rural residents experience a lower share of pain-free life, especially in the Northeast and Southern regions of the US.
The Journal of Rural Studies published Reading to Stay: The Role of Reading in the Lives of Swedish Rural Males Across Generations by Karlstad University researchers Stig-Börje Asplund (Educational Studies), Birgitta Ljung Egeland (Language, Literature and Intercultural Studies), Gabriel Bladh, and Martin Stolare (both Political, Historical, Religious and Cultural Studies). The paper focuses on the reading practices of working-class men that shape conceptions of place and gender.
News & Commentary
Brookings published an in-depth piece on the future of data centers. The article explains the differences between types of data centers and their energy and water requirements, identifies stakeholders and policy implications, and considers their effect on the US’s international competitiveness.
An article published by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus examined the effects of rural pharmacy closures from the perspective of practicing pharmacists. The article notes that industry consolidation, downsizing, and changing insurance reimbursements have left many rural communities without access to these “critical healthcare hubs.”
A recent article in Reuters covered the challenging conditions of the US farm economy, citing a 36% increase in farm bankruptcies and shrinking margins due to high production costs and trade uncertainty. Farm families also face additional losses as jobs disappear when local schools and hospitals close.
A Michigan State University news article explored why rural students’ college entrance rates are lower than those of their suburban and urban peers. Barriers include insufficient Internet access for the college application process, fewer representatives at admissions fairs, and high school curricula that may not meet college requirements.
Events & Recordings
The Rural Sociological Society is now accepting abstract and poster proposals for the 2026 Annual Meeting in Raleigh, NC, on July 30-August 2. The theme this year is “Rural Justice,” and submissions from legal scholarship perspectives are especially welcome. Submission instructions and more details are available here. Proposals are due by February 15.
A recent episode of The Stepping In It Podcast addressed the failings of traditional mental health systems in the rural Midwest, their disproportionate impact on youth and marginalized communities, and how a more flexible, integrative, and community-driven approach might offer more responsive care. Listen in here.
