Enhancing Well‐being of Homeless Individuals by Building Group Memberships

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12397331
AutoresMelissa Johnstone (0000-0001-9205-4417, Faculty of Human Sciences Macquarie University Sydney 2109 New South Wales Australia, autor de correspondencia), Jolanda Jetten (0000-0002-7588-5355, School of Psychology University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia), Genevieve A Dingle (0000-0002-4915-169X, School of Psychology University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia), Cameron Parsell (0000-0002-7289-896X, Institute for Social Science Research University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia), Zoe Walter (0000-0001-8310-4021, School of Psychology University of Queensland St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia)
Año2016
Volumen26
Número5
Páginas421-438
Fecha de publicación2016-04-19
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Community & Applied Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1052-9284 • E-ISSN: 1099-1298
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/casp.2272
OpenAlexW2404532979
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas14
Referencias citadas40

There is growing recognition that social isolation and a lack of connectedness with social groups is one of the reasons why the subjective well‐being of homeless individuals is generally worse than the rest of the population. Past research amongst a range of populations suggests that the ability of an individual to take on new group memberships and/or their ability to maintain their memberships in meaningful groups is an important predictor of well‐being. In a mixed method study ( N = 119), we examined the extent to which experiences at homeless accommodation form building blocks for the formation of multiple group memberships and to what extent this predicts positive well‐being. Qualitative analysis reveals the importance of feeling connected to the homeless service and supported by homeless accommodation staff. Linking these data to quantitative data from a second wave, we found that these experiences predicted well‐being. These findings provide further support for a strength‐based approach to homelessness, by providing insights into the ways that experiences at homeless accommodation can contribute to the development of multiple group memberships (i.e. social capital), and enhance the well‐being of those experiencing, and exiting, homelessness. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Accommodation · Feeling · Population · Social capital · Social connectedness · Social isolation · Social science · Social support · Sociology · Well-being · Demography · Health disparities and outcomes · Homelessness and Social Issues · Psychology · Social Psychology · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies