Development of a measure of sense of community for individuals with serious mental illness residing in community settings

Factors encouraging participation in social activities after hospital discharge in people with severe mental illness who received occupational therapy

Introduction

Occupational therapy (OT), a vital part of psychiatric rehabilitation, encourages participation in social activities, which is critical for the recovery of people with severe mental illnesses (SMI). However, the effects of OT on the subsequent social activities of patients with SMI have not been fully clarified. We aimed to identify the factors that encourage post-discharge social activity participation among patients with SMI who received OT.

Method

Patients who underwent OT at the Kyorin University Hospital between April 2016 and March 2020 were retrospectively examined for baseline data during hospitalization and social activity status 1 year after discharge. Occupational support, group adaptation, artistic activities, and exercise programs were considered. Activities requiring social interaction were defined as social activities, including employment, schooling, sheltered work, and volunteer work. Multiple logistic regression analyses using demographic and medical data, prehospitalization social activity status, and OT participation rates as independent variables were used to examine the factors encouraging social activity participation after discharge. Decision tree analysis was conducted to identify patients who specifically needed to increase OT participation.

Results

Of 524 eligible patients, 247 were included in the study. The number of patients who were socially active at admission and after discharge was 116 and 188, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that the following factors were likely to encourage social activity participation after discharge: higher rates of OT participation to facilitate group adaptation (OR = 1.015, 95% CI 1.003-1.027), being socially active at admission (OR = 4.557, 95% CI 2.155-9.637), and no marital history (OR = 0.293, 95% CI 0.130-0.661). Decision tree analysis showed that for patients who were socially inactive at admission and had a history of marriage, increasing OT participation to 52.6% or higher may ensure social activity participation after discharge.

Conclusions

This study identified patients whose social participation after discharge could be boosted by OT that facilitates group adaptation. Our findings would facilitate the development of individualized add-on rehabilitation based on the effects of real-world OT practices.

The Impact of Insider Researcher Trainees in Recruiting and Retaining Latinx in an Outdoor Health Promotion Research Study

Latinx represent the second largest ethnic group in the USA and remain significantly underrepresented in research studies. Efforts to better include Latinx make use of community-engaged research (CEnR) approaches, peer-navigators, and cultural humility training for research teams. While these efforts have led to slight increases in Latinx participation, studies to identify strategic practices for better inclusion of Latinx participants are needed. The objective of this study was to qualitatively examine factors leading to successful recruitment and retention of Latinx participants in the Promoting Activity and Stress Reduction in the Outdoors (PASITO) intervention. For this intervention, 99 low-income Latinx clients in a local community were contacted and 52 participants were recruited (53%). All were retained in the 3-month intervention. Of these, 12 were interviewed within 6 months of the close of PASITO by bi-cultural and bi-lingual non-research staff. They conducted one-on-one structured telephone interviews. Of the twelve participants, three (25%) were men, nine (75%) were women, and the mean age was 43.7 (SD = 8.7). Four critical themes for the recruitment and retention of Latinx populations emerged from the interviews: (1) importance of insider researchers; (2) sense of community and belonging; (3) responsive programming; and (4) health-promoting activities. These findings support the significant role insider researchers can play, and social identity theory provides a useful framework for understanding the role of insider researchers in recruiting and retaining Latinx, and likely other minoritized groups, in clinical studies. Insider researchers possess the skills, training, community cultural wealth, in-depth understanding of their communities, and structural competencies that position them to carry out more inclusive studies to address the needs of marginalized communities and advance science.

The Effect of Familism Emotions on Post-Traumatic Growth Among the Elderly in China: The Mediating Roles of Taoist Personality and Sense of Community

Purpose

Post-traumatic growth is a significant social issue in the management of active aging in elderly people. This study investigates the influence of familism emotions on post-traumatic growth (PTG) of the elderly, and the mediating role of Taoist personality and sense of community (SOC) therein, to provide a scientific basis for the development of positive aging in the elderly.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in several communities of Hubei Province in China. A total of 338 elderly people were investigated with the Familism Emotion Scale, PTG Scale, Taoist Personality Scale and SOC Scale. SPSS 23.0 was used to derive descriptive statistics and conduct a common method bias test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple stepwise regression analysis. Mplus 7.3 was used for structural equation modeling to test the significance of parallel mediation effects on the data.

Results

The results show that: (1) Familism emotions, Taoist personality and SOC are positively correlated with PTG; (2) Familism emotions, Taoist personality and SOC can all positively predict PTG in the elderly; (3) Both Taoist personality and SOC partially mediated the link between familism emotions and PTG in the elderly.

Conclusion

In the context of particularly constraining societal events such as COVID-19, it is necessary to pay careful attention to the impact of external environmental influences upon the elderly, such as family and community, and to encourage elderly people to cultivate a more Taoist personality. The formation of a Taoist personality offers a promising new focus for research in elderly healthcare.

Subjective Well-Being and Related Factors among Independent, Healthy, Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan

(1) Background: Subjective well-being (SWB) is internationally recognized as an important health-related factor for most age groups and is particularly influential for life quality and expectancy in independent, healthy, community-dwelling older adults. However, the physical function and community participation correlates of SWB in independent living older adults in super-aging societies and other influencing factors remain underexplored. (2) Methods: A total of 926 independent, healthy, community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and above registered in Yokohama, Japan, were included. Respondents' mean age was 78.1 years (standard deviation = 6.7), and 74.0% were women. The dependent variable was SWB. The independent variables were respondents' demographic characteristics, physical factors (visual, hearing, and cognitive functions, and mobility), and community and social factors (participation in community groups, social networks, and community commitment. (3) Results: The mean (standard deviation) WHO-5 score was 16.3 (5.1). Significant factors associated with WHO-5 score were visual function (odds ratio [OR]: 0.708; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.352-0.690), hearing function (OR: 0.615; CI: 0.431-0.878), community groups (OR: 1.310; CI: 1.003-1.059), community commitments (OR: 1.180; CI: 1.132-1.231), and social networks (OR: 1.525; CI: 1.142-2.037) adjusted for the effects of demographic factors. (4) Conclusions: These findings are important because factors associated with SWB are likely to contribute to individual well-being and longevity and to developing a healthy super-aged society.

Exploring the Impact of Verbal Abuse on Recovery: A Mediation Study

OBJECTIVE

People with serious mental illnesses are exposed to high rates of verbal abuse. This study examines the impact of such experiences on loneliness and social support, which is hypothesized to ultimately diminish recovery.

METHOD

Fifty participants with serious mental illnesses reported on their experiences with verbal abuse, loneliness, social support, and recovery.

RESULTS

Verbal abuse was found to be related to loneliness and social support, and both mediated the relationship between verbal abuse and recovery.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Verbal abuse is an all too common experience of people with serious mental illnesses that ultimately affects their recovery. Specifically, exposure to verbal abuse may impact recovery by increasing sense of loneliness and perceived social support. The implications are that a heightened awareness of verbal abuse and its impact on recovery should draw attention to interventions that decrease exposure and increase self-advocacy to combat negative outcomes.

Community and Housing First: A qualitative analysis of USA residents' perspectives

Plymouth Housing is a Housing First organisation in Seattle, WA (USA) that provides far more than housing for its residents-staff are equally concerned with building community and creating a sense of belonging. The objective of this study was to interview residents about their experiences of community and collect their suggestions for improving community, building efforts within this organisation. This exploratory qualitative study was conducted across eight buildings and included 38 participants from November 2018 to February 2019. Data were collected by the researchers in the form of focus groups and individual interviews, utilising a semi-structured interview protocol. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Themes were identified by each researcher separately and then cross referenced for validity using direct quotes from participants. Five main themes emerged from the data: 'really good community here'; mutual support and care; interpersonal connections; gatherings and events; lack of community. This study demonstrates that regularly held events and activities help to build community, create a sense of stability and increase familiarity and trust amongst residents. An implication of this study is the importance of actively soliciting residents' input to guide community building efforts. This is a small-scale exploratory study and although the findings are applicable to the participants' experiences, further research is needed to build on these findings in other parts of the USA as well as internationally.

Taking another look at the sense of community index: Six confirmatory factor analyses

Previous studies focusing on the effects of the social aspects of community have often used the Sense of Community Index (SCI), despite other research showing that it is not a good-fit measure for its expected dimensions. Using a sample of students from Brigham Young University, we performed confirmatory factor analysis of the SCI to assess 1-factor, 4-factor, 1-factor revised, 3-factor revised, 1-factor revised, 4-factor revised, and 1-factor revised models. Our study resulted in mixed findings: models were neither a poor-fit nor a good fit. Although the 4-factor revised model was the best fit, it did not measure the intended dimensions well. Our analysis indicates that future research investigating sense of community should use measures other than the SCI.

Exploring the Role of Social Support in Promoting Community Integration: An Integrated Literature Review

Community integration has emerged as a priority area among mental health advocates, policy makers, and researchers (Townley, Miller, & Kloos, 2013; Ware, Hopper, Tugenberg, Dickey, & Fisher, 2007). Past research suggests that social support influences community integration for individuals with serious mental illnesses (Davidson, Haglund, Stayner, Rakfeldt, Chinman, & Tebes, 2001; Davidson, Stayner, Nickou, Styron, Rowe, & Chinman, 2001; Wong & Solomon, 2002), but there has not yet been a systematic review on this topic. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to explore the influence of social support on community integration through a review of the existing literature. An extensive literature search was conducted, resulting in 32 articles that met the search criteria. These articles were organized into three categories: defining community integration, supportive relationships, and mental health services. The search results are analyzed according to the types of support being provided. Article strengths, limitations, implications, and future directions are also addressed. Overall, the findings of this review suggest that social support, which may be provided by a variety of individuals and services, plays an important role in promoting community integration for individuals with serious mental illnesses. Therefore, as community mental health research and practice continues to promote community integration for individuals with serious mental illnesses, the mental health field should emphasize the importance of social support as a key factor influencing community integration.

Socially Valued Roles, Self-Determination, and Community Participation among Individuals Living with Serious Mental Illnesses

Decades after deinstitutionalization, individuals living with serious mental illnesses remain isolated, socially disengaged, and devalued members of communities. Burgeoning research and services need conceptual clarity to improve such social conditions. This qualitative inquiry used grounded theory and participatory approaches to conduct an in-depth exploration of community participation for individuals living with serious mental illnesses based on key stakeholder perspectives (n = 45). Results revealed that community participation is a multifaceted construct with layers of meaning for individuals living with serious mental illnesses. Overarching themes are contextualized in Self-Determination Theory and presented with deidentified illustrations. Implications for services, research, and policy are discussed.

The influence of sense of community on the relationship between community participation and mental health for individuals with serious mental illnesses

The goal of the current study is to better understand the association between community participation and mental health by investigating sense of community as a potential mediating factor between community participation, psychological distress, and mental health functioning. A survey was administered to 300 adults with serious mental illnesses using community mental health services in the United States in a cross-sectional design. Hayes PROCESS macro (model 4, version 2.16; Hayes, 2013) was employed to test all of the hypotheses. Results indicate that sense of community partially mediated the association between community participation and psychological distress, as well as mental health functioning. Implications include contributing to the current knowledge base about the influence of community factors on mental health and informing future interventions aimed at promoting community participation of adults with serious mental illnesses.

Korean translation and validation of the Community Commitment Scale for preventing social isolation in older adults

AIM

The Community Commitment Scale was developed in Japan to measure communities' ability to prevent older adults' social isolation, including socializing and belonging in the community. We translated the scale into Korean (the Community Commitment Scale-Korean version [CCS-K]), and determined its internal consistency, concurrent validity and construct validity.

METHODS

Self-report questionnaires were administered to 326 local volunteers (82.8% women, 65.3% aged ≥60 years) in Korea. Internal consistency was analyzed with Cronbach's alpha. To evaluate the concurrent validity of the CCS-K, we used the Brief Sense of Community Index, the revised Generative Concern Scale and ratings of two questions that addressed helping elderly neighbors.

RESULTS

The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the CCS-K was 0.68. The correlation coefficients between the CCS-K and Brief Sense of Community Index or Generative Concern Scale, were 0.40 and 0.33 (P < 0.001), respectively. ANOVAs comparing the CCS-K between confidence levels for the two questions that addressed helping elderly neighbors showed large or medium-sized relationships (η² = 0.14 and η² = 0.08). A confirmatory factor analysis showed the CCS-K had adequate fit to the data (goodness of fit index = 0.965, adjusted goodness of fit index = 0.934, comparative fit index = 0.956 and root mean square error of approximation = 0.067).

CONCLUSIONS

The CCS-K has acceptable internal consistency, concurrent validity and construct validity among Korean local volunteers. Thus, we can conclude that the CCS-K can be effectively applied. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 806-812.

Are Measures of Character and Personality Distinct? Evidence From Observed-Score and True-Score Analyses

Two studies were conducted to investigate redundancy between the character strengths found in the VIA model of character and familiar personality facets. Study 1 used a community sample (N = 606) that completed a measure of character strengths, four personality inventories, and 17 criterion measures. The second study used Mechanical Turk workers (N = 498) who completed measures of the HEXACO and VIA models and 111 criterion variables. Analyses were conducted using both observed scores and true score estimates, evaluating both predictive and conceptual overlap. Eight of 24 VIA scales proved to be largely redundant with one HEXACO personality facet, but only one VIA scale (Appreciation of Beauty) was largely redundant with Five Factor facets. All strength scales except Spirituality overlapped substantially with at least one personality facet. The results suggest the VIA Classification variables are strongly related to commonly measured personality facets, but the two models are not redundant.

Development of a community's self-efficacy scale for preventing social isolation among community-dwelling older people (Mimamori Scale)

BACKGROUND

Among older people in developed countries, social isolation leading to solitary death has become a public health issue of vital importance. Such isolation could be prevented by monitoring at-risk individuals at the neighborhood level and by implementing supportive networks at the community level. However, a means of measuring community confidence in these measures has not been established. This study is aimed at developing the Community's Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES; Mimamori scale in Japanese) for community members preventing social isolation among older people.

METHODS

The CSES is a self-administered questionnaire developed on the basis of Bandura's self-efficacy theory. The survey was given to a general population (GEN) sample (n = 6,000) and community volunteer (CVOL) sample (n = 1,297). Construct validity was determined using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alpha. The Generative Concern Scale (GCS-R) and Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) were also administered to assess criterion-related validity of the CSES.

RESULTS

In total, 3,484 and 859 valid responses were received in the GEN and CVOL groups, respectively. The confirmatory factor analysis identified eight items from two domains-community network and neighborhood watch-with goodness of fit index = 0.984, adjusted goodness of fit index = 0.970, comparative fit index = 0.988, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.047. Cronbach's alpha for the entire CSES was 0.87 and for the subscales was 0.80 and higher. The score of the entire CSES was positively correlated with the GCS-R in both the GEN (r = 0.80, p < 0.001) and CVOL (r = 0.86, p < 0.001) samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The CSES demonstrated adequate reliability and validity for assessing a community's self-efficacy to aid in its preventing social isolation among older people. The scale is potentially useful for promoting health policies, practices, and interventions within communities. This may help prevent social isolation among older people and contribute to overall well-being in aging societies in Japan and abroad.

Sense of Community and Its Impact on the Life Satisfaction of Adults With Brain Injury

Sense of community (SOC) refers to feelings of belonging and attachment one has for a community. Despite a growing focus on adjustment and community outcomes following disability, this construct has received little attention in the rehabilitation literature. The primary aim of this study was to examine the extent to which SOC and social identification with one’s town contribute to life satisfaction outcomes among adults with brain injury, controlling for demographic, disability, and other related social constructs (e.g., social support and social integration). Members from brain injury associations across the United States ( N = 177) participated in a survey-based study. Results from hierarchical regression analysis indicated that the final model accounted for 45% of the variance in life satisfaction, with SOC variables contributing 11%. Symptom severity, perceived emotional support, and the SOC dimension reinforcement of needs were significant independent predictors of life satisfaction. Findings from this study highlight the importance of examining SOC variables among clients with brain injury to enhance subjective well-being.

Mind over matter? The role of individual perceptions in understanding the social ecology of housing environments for individuals with psychiatric disabilities

There is a disagreement in place-based research regarding whether objective indicators or individual perceptions of environments are better predictors of well-being. This study assessed environmental influences on well-being for 373 individuals with psychiatric disabilities living independently in 66 neighborhoods in the southeastern United States. Three questions were examined utilizing random effects models: (1) How much variance in personal and neighborhood well-being can be explained by neighborhood membership? (2) What is the relationship between participant perceptions of neighborhood quality and researcher ratings of neighborhood quality? and (3) What is the relative influence of individual perceptions, perceptions aggregated by neighborhood, and researcher ratings of neighborhood quality in predicting personal and neighborhood well-being? Results indicate that individual perceptions of neighborhood quality were more closely related to well-being than either aggregated perceptions or researcher ratings. Thus, participants' perceptions of their neighborhoods were more important indicators of their well-being than objective ratings made by researchers. Findings have implications for measurement approaches and intervention design in placed-based research.

Community participation and belonging among formerly homeless adults with mental illness after 12 months of Housing First in Vancouver, British Columbia: a randomized controlled trial

This study examines community integration among homeless adults with mental illness 6 and 12 months after random assignment to Housing First (independent apartments or congregate residence) with support services or to treatment as usual (TAU). Residence in independent apartments was associated with increased 'psychological integration' for participants with less severe needs; however, no significant improvement in 'physical integration' was observed among any of the intervention groups. Analysis of individual items on the Psychological Integration subscale revealed that, compared to TAU, participants assigned to independent apartments were more likely to endorse statements related to the emotional components of community but not statements related to neighboring. Participants assigned to the congregate residence were more likely to endorse knowing their neighbors, but not interacting with neighbors or the emotional components of community. Findings are discussed in terms of housing program as well as broader contextual factors.

Coming to Get and Needing to Keep

Membership associations for African-centered scholars, activists, and practitioners are viewed as relational communities that respond to the dynamic interplay of the needs and talents of its members. In this case study, quantitative methods examined, at the individual level, the role of psychological sense of community (PSOC),worldview, professional self-growth potential (PsGP), and participation of members in one membership association that espouses African-centered values. Data were collected via online and paper-and-pencil surveys administered at the organization’s annual conference. Findings indicated that for the entire sample age, PSOC and PsGP were significantly correlated with membership participation. While membership participation was unrelated to a shared worldview, factors that predicted it varied by membership status (student and nonstudent) and gender. For the student sample, PsGP was predictive of membership participation, but gender differences were undetected. However, for the nonstudent sample, age and PSOC were predictive of membership participation; but for males, only age was a significant predictor. Findings are discussed in relation to those factors that contribute to fostering active participation within membership associations for African-centered scholars.

Evaluating PTSD prevalence and resilience factors in a predominantly Asian American and Pacific Islander sample of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

BACKGROUND

This study examined the prevalence, and risk and resilience correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in ethno-racially diverse Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) Veterans in Hawai'i.

METHODS

A total of 236 OEF/OIF/OND Veterans residing in Hawai'i completed a mail survey.

RESULTS

The majority of Veterans identified themselves as Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (34.6%), Asian American (29.3%), or European American (24.5%). Asian American Veterans were significantly less likely to screen positive for PTSD than Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders and European Americans (16.4% vs. 44.4% and 39.2%, respectively). Results of hierarchical logistic regression analyses indicated that greater scores on measures of psychological resilience and social support were negatively associated with a positive screen for PTSD in the full sample and in the subsample of European Americans. However, only disclosure norms were associated with PTSD among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Veterans, and none of the variables assessed were associated with PTSD in Asian Americans.

LIMITATIONS

All results are correlational and based on self-report measures; causal inferences cannot be made.

CONCLUSIONS

Culturally distinctive mechanisms likely underlie risk and resilience correlates of PTSD. Understanding these factors will help improve our ability to ameliorate the impact of PTSD, both within and across diverse groups of Veterans.

Measuring enfranchisement: importance of and control over participation by people with disabilities

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the psychometric properties and validity of an expanded set of community enfranchisement items that are suitable for computer adaptive testing.

DESIGN

Survey.

SETTING

Community setting.

PARTICIPANTS

Individuals with disabilities (N=1163) were recruited from an online panel generation company (51%), former rehabilitation inpatients (18%), disability community organizations (13%), a registry of rehabilitation patients (10%), and Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Model System facilities (8%). Inclusion criteria were a self-identified disability, aged ≥18 years, and the ability to read and speak English.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Community enfranchisement.

RESULTS

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the 48 enfranchisement items suggested 2 distinct subsets of items: (1) importance of participation and (2) control over participation. Principal components analysis of the residuals suggested that the 2 item sets are unidimensional. Rating scale analysis provided evidence that the 2 item sets fit the Rasch model. Importance and control were moderately correlated with each other and with disability severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Importance of participation and control over participation define 2 distinct sets of participation enfranchisement. Preliminary evidence supports their validity.

Neighborhoods and HIV: a social ecological approach to prevention and care

Neighborhood factors have been linked to HIV risk behaviors, HIV counseling and testing, and HIV medical care. However, the social-psychological mechanisms that connect neighborhood factors to HIV-related behaviors have not been fully determined. In this article we review the research on neighborhood factors and HIV-related behaviors, approaches to measuring neighborhoods, and mechanisms that may help to explain how the physical and social environment within neighborhoods may lead to HIV-related behaviors. We then discuss organizational, geographic, and social network approaches to intervening in neighborhoods to reduce HIV transmission and facilitate HIV medical care with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality and increasing social and psychological well-being.

Development of a community commitment scale with cross-sectional survey validation for preventing social isolation in older Japanese people

Background

Elderly social isolation could be prevented by facilitating communication or mutual helping at the neighborhood level. The helping of elderly neighbors by local volunteers may relate to their community commitment (CC), but ways to measure CC have not been identified. The aim of the present study was to develop a Community Commitment Scale (CCS) to measure psychological sense of belonging and socializing in the community among local volunteers, for research in prevention of elderly social isolation. We also tested the CCS in a general population of the elderly.

Methods

A pilot test of 266 Japanese urban residents was conducted to examine face validity for 24 identified items, of which 12 items were selected for the CCS, based on a 4-point Likert-type scale. The CCS was developed via self-report questionnaires to 859 local volunteers in two suburban cities and to 3484 randomly sampled general residents aged 55 years or older living in one of the cities. To assess concurrent validity, data were collected using the Brief Sense of Community Scale (Peterson; 2008) and two types of single questions on self-efficacy for helping elderly neighbors.

Results

Item analysis and factor analysis identified 8 items, which were classified between two datasets under the domains of “belonging” and “socializing” in the local volunteers and the general residents. Cronbach’s alpha (which conveyed the internal consistency of the CCS) was 0.75 in local volunteers and 0.78 in general residents. The correlation coefficients between the scores of the CCS and BSCS were 0.54 for local volunteers and 0.62 for general residents. ANOVA comparing the CCS between the confidence levels of the two types of single question of self-efficacy on helping elderly neighbors showed a strong relationship in the volunteers and residents.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate acceptable internal consistency and concurrent validity for the CCS, with the two dimensions “belonging” and “socializing”, among the local volunteers and general residents in urban Japanese areas. Community commitment measured by the CCS was related to the degree of confidence for self-efficacy in helping elderly neighbors to prevent elderly social isolation.

Examining the psychological sense of community for individuals with serious mental illness residing in supported housing environments

The psychological sense of community is an important aspect of community life; yet, it remains largely unexamined among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). Sense of community represents the strength of bonding among community members; and this social phenomenon likely impacts the process by which individuals with SMI integrate into community life. The current study examined sense of community (SOC) for individuals with SMI by assessing the relationships between neighborhood experiences, unique factors related to SMI (e.g., mental illness diagnosis), and sense of community in the neighborhood. Participants were 402 residents of supported housing programs who used mental health services in South Carolina. Hierarchical linear regression was utilized to determine which components of community life helped to explain variability in sense of community. In total, 214 participants reported that it is very important for them to feel a sense of community in their neighborhoods. Neighbor relations, neighborhood safety, neighborhood satisfaction, neighborhood tolerance for mental illness, and housing site type emerged as significant explanatory variables of sense of community. These findings have implications for interventions aimed at enhancing SOC and community integration for individuals with SMI.

Social value of supported employment for psychosocial program participants

Members of a psychiatric psychosocial program designed to provide both supported employment and peer support were surveyed about their current social activities, sources of social support, and social life improvement since joining the program. Survey respondents who worked a mainstream job (n=17) reported greater peer contact in community locations, and correspondingly greater social life improvement, than those who remained unemployed or worked volunteer jobs (n=45). Results of a hierarchical regression analysis (N=62) that explored this positive correlation between mainstream work, community-based peer contact, and social life satisfaction suggest that working a job in an integrated setting that paid at least minimum wage encouraged program participants to meet and interact in community locations, thereby strengthening peer mutual support while furthering social integration. This unique pattern of findings requires replication, and we recommend that other psychosocial programs conduct similar quality improvement studies to provide further insights into the relationship between peer support and community integration.

Reconcilable differences? Human diversity, cultural relativity, and sense of community

Sense of community (SOC) is one of the most widely used and studied constructs in community psychology. As proposed by Sarason in (The Psychological sense of community: prospects for a community psychology, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 1974), SOC represents the strength of bonding among community members. It is a valuable component of community life, and it has been linked to positive mental health outcomes, citizen participation, and community connectedness. However, promotion of SOC can become problematic in community psychology praxis when it conflicts with other core values proposed to define the field, namely values of human diversity, cultural relativity, and heterogeneity of experience and perspective. Several commentators have noted that promotion of SOC can conflict with multicultural diversity because it tends to emphasize group member similarity and appears to be higher in homogeneous communities. In this paper, we introduce the idea of a community-diversity dialectic as part of praxis and research in community psychology. We argue that systematic consideration of cultural psychology perspectives can guide efforts to address a community-diversity dialectic and revise SOC formulations that ultimately will invigorate community research and action. We provide a working agenda for addressing this dialectic, proposing that systematic consideration of the creative tension between SOC and diversity can be beneficial to community psychology.

Investigating the relationship between neighborhood experiences and psychiatric distress for individuals with serious mental illness

The present study examined the relationships between how research participants experienced their neighborhood, their neighborhood social climate, and psychological well-being. Participants (n = 525) were residents of supported housing programs who used mental health services at one of 17 community mental health centers in South Carolina. Hierarchical regression and mediation analyses were employed to answer research questions. Results suggest that neighbor relations, perceptions of neighborhood safety, and neighborhood satisfaction were significantly associated with perceptions of neighborhood social climate; and neighborhood social climate accounted for a significant amount of the variance in psychiatric distress. Of particular interest, perceptions of neighborhood social climate fully mediated the relationship between the specific reported neighborhood experiences and psychiatric distress. These findings have implications for interventions and policy aimed at promoting integration of individuals with serious mental illness into community settings.