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Publicação
Examining the psychological sense of community for individuals with serious mental illness residing in supported housing environments
Autores
Orientador(es)
Resumo(s)
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.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Psychiatric disabilities Sense of community Supported housing Community integration Neighborhood
Contexto Educativo
Citação
Community Mental Health Journal, 47, 436-446