Based on the completed interview schedules of 74 black and 34 white rural household heads (from an East Mississippi county) making less than $3,000 annually, the purpose of this study was to examine whether social participation of the impoverished may be correlated with the geographic mobility potential of household heads and their adult children. The extent of social participation was determined by assigning a numerical score to every social interaction beyond the nuclear family and each membership in a formal organization, from which an overall score was derived for each household head. Race was used as a control factor throughout the analysis. Srole's scale of anomie was utilized to determine the degree of social withdrawal among household heads. Results indicated impoverished household heads who had different levels of social participation did not differ significantly in the demographic, social, or economic factors nor in respect to participation levels, degree of anomie, or willingness to leave the community. But the children of impoverished parents who were participation inclined had significantly more formal education and moved significantly greater distances from their home of origin. (JC)