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Abstract: Abstract What kind of legacy does war violence leave for future societies' Among many factors that humans can control, war often affects the highest number of people; several studies have looked at the long-term effects of war violence on present socioeconomic outcomes. The conclusions, however, are generally divided into two competing claims, namely those that emphasize the proactive consequences of war violence and those that emphasize negative legacies. This is one of the first studies to provide empirical evidence of a negative association between war violence and human well-being. I used historical data from WWII strategic bombing of Japan to calculate the extent of war destruction and suicide rates as an inverse index of human well-being. The panel data analysis, which used the originally-constructed historical aggregated data set of Japanese prefectures, reveals that the suicide rates of several decades later are greater in areas where people have experienced higher levels of house loss. According to the survey data analysis, the air raids may have undermined the communal relationships of the bombed districts. Although the effect is small and declining with time, this study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the long-term persistence of war legacies. PubDate: 2022-04-05
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Abstract: Abstract The residential environment, including its factual and perceived characteristics, plays an important role in influencing the health and the well-being of residents. Although objective assessment of residential environment has been operationalized through a wide range of tools, few instruments including residents’ perception of this environment have been developed. As part of a larger participatory action research, called Flash on my neighborhood! a total of 62 tenant-researchers living in public housing evaluated their residential environment using the Participatory Neighborhood Observation Grid. Results from this multiple case study show that the novel tool presents 1) tenant-researchers’ self-reported appreciation; 2) the capacity to capture the relevant local knowledge; and 3) complementary quantitative and qualitative data for tailored action planning. The Participatory Neighborhood Observation Grid possesses valuable properties aimed at mitigating certain limitations of the available environment observation tools and is suited for both community development research and practice. PubDate: 2022-03-31
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Abstract: Abstract Blight formation, especially in a developing nation like Nigeria, has become an issue of discourse owing to its socio-eco-physical and environmental consequences on man. While various studies have focused on blight and its effects on the human environment, its effect on liveability has not been adequately researched in literature. This study, therefore, investigated the liveability pattern of selected blighted areas in Ibadan. Both primary and secondary data were sourced for the study. Probability sampling was used to randomly select three neighbourhoods (Agugu, Mokola, Yemetu) from the core and periphery of Ibadan. Systematic sampling was used to administer a questionnaire to 243 (9%) households randomly selected from 2702 buildings in the selected areas. A liveability index was developed in which sampled households’ responses on liveability indicators used for the study were scored and used in ranking the level of the livability of the neighbourhoods. The liveability level was ranked in terms of ‘very good’ (70–100%), ‘good’ (50–69%), ‘fair’ (40–49%) and ‘poor’ (less than 40%). Aggregate scores for the liveability index of each neighbourhood were measured in terms of the percentage of the sampled households within it that had a score of at least 50%. Data on respondents’ socio-economic characteristics were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multiple regressions, ANOVA). Focus Group Discussions (FGD) that were used to complement the data were content analyzed. Findings showed that male respondents were 35.4% while the female was 64.6%; 49.6% of the respondents were married, 11.1% were divorced and 8% were separated, and 76.5% had more than three persons in their household. The study also revealed Mokola as the neighbourhood with the highest level of liveability (63%), followed by Agugu (21%); Yemetu has the lowest level of liveability (2%). Strategies were proposed to improve the level of the liveability of neighbourhoods in the city of Ibadan. PubDate: 2022-03-01
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Abstract: Abstract Many scholars and practitioners have heard the call to include asset-based community development (ABCD) approaches in their toolkits to enhance community well-being. This overview article discusses how indicators of community strengths and assets have been included in community health assessments, specifically those focused on exploring community needs. The authors collate a list of common strengths-based indicators (i.e., assets) assessed in the community health and well-being literature. In particular, this overview article addresses how such indicators of community strengths may be limited in their abilities to elucidate meaningful insights when surveying diverse populations of individuals/groups regarding their well-being. Asking, which indicators of community strengths uniquely contribute to individual and community health when sampling diverse populations, this article leverages a recent community health needs assessment in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, to demonstrate the merits and limits of strengths indicators in needs assessments. Moreover, the article concludes by suggesting that strengths indicators as add-ons to needs assessments do not adequately reflect the myriad possibilities for meaningful inferences that can be derived from ABCD approaches, specifically in regard to social determinants of health, individual health, and community well-being. PubDate: 2022-03-01
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Abstract: Abstract The concern on mental health issues keeps increasing among college students globally. College years are prone for students to experience mental disorders. Hence, the demand for mental health services on campus far exceeds the available resources. Colleges around the world are aware of the critical issue of mental health among their students. Some institutions have come up with emerging programs, new online resources, and innovative approaches to tackling the problems. This study, therefore, aims at identifying the resources to aid mental health problems made available by the universities in Malaysia. To identify available resources, we employed the systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines. The review includes reports as well as information available on the internet. A checklist is employed to filter the information gathered. Gathering information from the local universities, the study reviews websites and interviews the student affairs division for activities concerning mental health. The findings reveal available approaches to tackle the mental health problems among students and to what extent the universities take actions to help resolve the condition. Finally, this study recommends that universities take intensive initiatives to help students with mental health problems. They should move forward from increasing awareness toward conducting intervention programs. PubDate: 2022-03-01
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Abstract: Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the perceptions, motivations and wellbeing impacts for volunteers and contributors to Broadstairs Folk Week. The study utilised questionnaires with a mix of quantitative and qualitative measures, within a single cohort (n = 152). Analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 24 to produce descriptive statistics, and cross-tabulations were used to interrogate key variables. NVivo 11 software was used to analyse qualitative comments. A thematic analysis (thematic development) approach further identified codes and themes that fitted well with the Five Ways to Wellbeing (Aked, J., Marks, N., Cordon, C. and Thompson, S. (2008). Five ways to wellbeing: a report presented to the Foresight Project on communicating the evidence base for improving people’s well-being, New Economics Foundation. Retrieved from https://b.3cdn.net/nefoundation/8984c5089d5c2285ee_t4m6bhqq5.pdf). Findings demonstrate that older-adult festival volunteers had a higher sense of subjective wellbeing prior to the festival than might ordinarily be expected in a similar group. Participants reported their sense of wellbeing increased during the festival. The Five Ways to Wellbeing model is suggested as a useful way to frame the results, linking a sense of ‘connection’ and ‘giving’ as participant motivators. This paper argues that festival volunteers derive personal benefits, including sense of connection and reciprocity, and access to resources with potential health and wellbeing benefits. This may be beneficial to the public health agenda of community development, reducing isolation and supporting healthy ageing. PubDate: 2022-03-01
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Abstract: Abstract Transgender (trans) people (including non-binary persons) experience high rates of violence and discrimination regarding their gender identity and expression, necessitating a deeper understanding of trans peoples’ perceptions of safety within their communities and their perspectives on well-being. The purpose of this study was to gather insight into the perceptions of safety and community inclusion among trans people, through the lens of Meyer’s Minority Stress Model. Thirty-three trans individuals residing in a mid-sized urban and rural region, 100 kms west of Toronto, Canada, were interviewed for a larger study focused on experiences of discrimination. For this paper, we conducted a thematic analysis using NVivo (version 12), that included 18 participants from the larger study, including trans men, trans women, and non-binary individuals. Both experiences of prejudice and anticipations of prejudice resulted in participants feeling unsafe. This negatively affected their well-being, consistent with Meyer’s Minority Stress Model. Additionally, we found that environments absent of prejudice or considered supportive, such as places participants received social gender affirmation and LGBT-connectedness, fostered feelings of safety and positive well-being. Our study indicates a need to address not only the external events of prejudice towards trans people, but also the stress associated with the anticipation of prejudice. PubDate: 2022-03-01
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Abstract: Abstract Happiness and efficient public spending are considered to be two desirable goals. In this paper, I consider happiness in the sense of how much one likes the life one leads (Veenhoven, 1984), and emphasize negative utilitarianism (Popper, 1952) as the best approach for promoting happiness in public policies. An ethical framework about public policies implemented to improve social conditions for happiness is suggested. I give a definition of the term optimization and propose two methods to optimize the relationship between public spending and social conditions for happiness. I briefly introduce a bookkeeping method, and I then present the bases of an econometric method in which quantile regression is described as the best tool within the negative utilitarianist approach, because quantile regression makes possible to know which independent variables influence most the degree of happiness of the least happy/ the saddest. The bookkeeping and the econometric methods presented are useful for any local, regional, national or supranational authority. These methods may also be useful for optimizing the relationship between natural resources consumption and social conditions for happiness. The paper is a conceptual paper. PubDate: 2022-03-01
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Abstract: Abstract The NHS Plan is introducing social prescribing link workers into GP surgeries in England. The link workers connect people to non-health resources in the community and voluntary sector, with the aim of meeting individual needs beyond the capacity of the NHS. Social prescribing models focus on enhancing individual wellbeing, guided by the policy of universal personalised care. However, they largely neglect the capacity of communities to meet individual need, particularly in the wake of a decade of austerity. We propose a model of community enhanced social prescribing (CESP) which has the potential to improve both individual and community wellbeing. CESP combines two evidence-informed models – Connected Communities and Connecting People – to address both community capacity and individual need. CESP requires a literacy of community which recognises the importance of communities to individuals and the importance of engaging with, and investing in, communities. When fully implemented the theory of change for CESP is hypothesised to improve both individual and community wellbeing. PubDate: 2022-03-01
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Abstract: Abstract Nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can play important roles in supporting and facilitating community development projects, improving community well-being. This study uses the theoretical framework provided by institutional logics to evaluate the competing value structures and ideologies held by multiple stakeholders in an international development program in rural Laos. Findings demonstrate the inherent tensions evolving between actors, adding to the theoretical literature on institutional logics in international collaborations, and discusses the practical implications for NGO and community development in order to ensure project success. PubDate: 2022-03-01
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Abstract: Abstract Community development must include deeper investment to foster a pipeline of community leaders to support equitable redevelopment practice in marginalized communities under threat of gentrification in the city. We argue that philanthropy is critical to develop this pipeline, particularly in the era of the neoliberal city. The following case study analyzes efforts to develop place-based grass roots leadership in marginalized neighborhoods of Columbus, Ohio. The United Way of Central Ohio, through their Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA) program, has partnered with community organizations to develop multiple cohorts of grass roots neighborhood leaders over several years within three specific neighborhoods. Our case identifies how philanthropic investment into a grass roots leadership development model centered on equity has impacted policy outcomes, built bridging social capital and spurred successful activism. Our case illustrates a potential model for building social infrastructure through philanthropic investment to buttress potentially disruptive neighborhood change. In the era of the neoliberal city, neighborhoods can no longer rely upon federal funding, leaving redeveloping neighborhoods particularly vulnerable to market driven gentrification and displacement. In this void of resources, philanthropic efforts to support robust grass roots leadership is the last remaining defense against widespread displacement and the primary asset to support equitable development practices. PubDate: 2022-02-23 DOI: 10.1007/s42413-021-00159-x
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Abstract: Abstract A large body of evidence has demonstrated a connection between volunteering and improved well-being, especially among older adults, without fully considering the implications of transitioning out of volunteering. While volunteers represent an important resource for many organizations, working with older adult volunteers also presents a unique set of considerations for volunteer administrators and other staff. Building on previous findings, this qualitative study interviews older-adult hospital volunteers (age 65 and older) about their experiences, motivations, and plans for future volunteering. Findings suggest that older adults engage in diverse volunteering tasks, exhibit complex and multifaceted motivations for beginning and continuing to volunteer, and develop a sense of self and identity as a volunteer that they wish to preserve. Our findings contribute to the development of a nascent three-stage model to explain how older adults approach the possibility of volunteer retirement. Implications for policy and future research are discussed. PubDate: 2022-01-27 DOI: 10.1007/s42413-021-00157-z
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Abstract: Abstract Association between neighborhood change and health exists in the literature with mixed evidence. This study examined the association between perceived gentrification and self-rated health—physical, mental, and general—in some selected neighborhoods experiencing gentrification in Austin, Texas. In this cross-sectional study, three hundred and forty (N = 340) current residents in East and Southeast Austin participated in a Neighborhood and Health Survey in summer 2020. We used a combination of quantitative techniques, including descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson’s Chi-square, analysis of variance, and logistic regression to describe and assess various relationships between variables. Results show that perceived gentrification among community members reduced the report of high self-rated mental health but increased the report for self-rated physical health and general health. In addition, older residents in these gentrifying neighborhoods rated their mental health higher than middle-aged residents. However, access to socioeconomic resources served as a cushion to the impact of gentrification on self-rated health in the multivariate analysis. Thus, this study provides evidence that reinforces the importance of health impact assessment of urban renewal policy and its implication on the minorities’ well-being, particularly longtime residents. PubDate: 2022-01-20 DOI: 10.1007/s42413-021-00155-1
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Abstract: Abstract As philanthropy has emerged to play a prominent role in supporting community well-being efforts, important critiques have been raised about the undemocratic nature of philanthropy that appears to privilege private interests over community needs. In response to these concerns, Community Philanthropy (CP) has emerged as a philanthropic model that prioritizes community asset-building, agency, and trust in order to “shift power” to beneficiary communities (Hodgson & Pond (2018). How community philanthropy shifts power. Grantcraft. Retrieved August 14, 2021, from https://grantcraft.org/content/guides/how-community-philanthropy-shifts-power). Despite its promise, questions remain about how CP can practically achieve the goals of sharing power, building trust, and showing solidarity toward community self-determination for well-being. To address these gaps, we examine the case of Thousand Currents, a public foundation that has pioneered a CP inspired grantmaking model. Thousand Currents provides long-term unrestricted grants to grassroots partners (grantees), learns about partner concerns, acts upon partner feedback, and is self-reflexive about its positional power as a funder. The foundation achieves its grantmaking objectives by taking deliberate fundraising and staffing decisions. Our case study showcases how other foundations can take steps towards actualizing CP. PubDate: 2022-01-11 DOI: 10.1007/s42413-021-00158-y
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Abstract: Abstract The overall health benefits of physical activity are well known, yet females are less physically active than men overall. To examine how to increase female physical activity levels, the effect of four advertisement frames (communal, agentic, appearance, and well-being) on young adult females' intention to attend group exercise classes were investigated. 177 undergraduate females reported their level of intention to attend group exercise for each of the differently framed advertisements. A linear mixed model with random effect for subject analysis found a well-being frame generated significantly more positive intention scores while an appearance frame resulted in significantly more negative intention scores to engage in group exercise. The results indicate the importance of using well-being frames and avoiding appearance-based frames in communication designed to increase young adult female intention to engage in physical activity. PubDate: 2022-01-08 DOI: 10.1007/s42413-021-00152-4
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Abstract: Abstract Wellness promotion practices continue to evolve and uniquely contribute to helping individuals and communities realize their full potential. Although competencies for wellness promotion exist, little evidence is available to support their construct validity or measurement properties. This study examined validity using an exploratory factor analysis of a wellness practitioner self-efficacy survey (n = 606) conducted in the United States. Results support a five-factor model with good internal consistency. Follow-up analysis points to a significant positive correlation between wellness promotion self-efficacy and years of experience in the field. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results also point to differences in wellness promotion self-efficacy among respondents who categorized themselves as seeking entry-, intermediate-, or advanced-level continuing education. These findings provide evidence to support the construct validity of a wellness promotion competency model. Implications for wellness promotion curriculum development, credentialing, and research are discussed. PubDate: 2022-01-06 DOI: 10.1007/s42413-021-00153-3
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