Community and well‐being: A qualitative study of how youth experiencing homelessness define community and its relations to their well‐being

Abstract

Prior research with youth experiencing homelessness suggests that community experiences can play an important role in their resilience and well‐being. This literature suggests that a sense of community (SOC) and social support may be two key interpersonal factors related to the well‐being of this population. However, quantitative research exploring these relationships has resulted in inconsistent findings, which may be due to a lack of understanding regarding youth's definitions of and experiences with community. This study utilized semistructured qualitative interviews with 24 youth experiencing homelessness to explore their definitions of community, how it is important to them, what communities they are a part of, and how these communities contribute to their well‐being. Overall, findings suggest that (a) youth generally define community in ways that align with current theory on SOC, (b) youth view community as important, and (c) their experiences within community settings promote their overall well‐being in various ways. However, the findings also suggest that community is not always a positive experience for these youth. This study has implications for how to promote the well‐being of youth experiencing homelessness, as well as how SOC and social support may relate to the well‐being of this population.

How Far Have we Come? An Integrative Review of the Current Literature on Sense of Community and Well‐being

“…Future research should incorporate different methodologies (e.g., qualitative, critical) in order to better understand the nuances of PSOC and well-being for individuals and communities in different contexts and settings. While there are currently qualitative studies on PSOC and well-being among different populations (e.g., Stewart & Townley, 2020;Brodsky, 1996), inclusion of these studies was beyond the scope of the current review and further inquiry should review the general and context-specific findings of these studies. Qualitative research in specific contexts could shed light on how to best capture the negative-neutral-positive conceptualization of PSOC and how it relates to wellbeing.…”

“…Further, while there are several known qualitative studies examining topics of PSOC and well-being among different populations (e.g., Stewart & Townley, 2020;Brodsky, 1996), the current review includes only quantitative studies. While future inquiry could review the qualitative studies on these topics, inclusion of the qualitative research was beyond the scope of the current review.…”

Third Places, Social Capital, and Sense of Community as Mechanisms of Adaptive Responding for Young People Who Experience Social Marginalization

“…McMillan and Chavis (1986) have built upon Sarason’s conceptual work, offering a theoretical framework for PSOC with four key components: membership (feelings of belonging), influence (mattering to the group’s members), integration and fulfillment of needs (feeling that needs will be met by resources of the group), and shared emotional connections (a commitment and belief that members will share history, places, time, and experiences). Recent qualitative work suggests that young people who experience social marginalization (such as homelessness) conceptualize and define sense of community in ways that align with current theoretical conceptions (Stewart & Townley, 2020).…”

“…What kinds of social capital are young people building in third places; how does this social capital benefit them, from their perspective? Building on Stewart and Townley's (2020) work on sense of community among young people experiencing homelessness, we should continue to explore: how do young people who experience social marginalization conceptualize psychological sense of community?…”

“…While pre‐eminent research on young people who experience social marginalization employs a deficit‐based standpoint by seeking to mitigate “risk behaviors” like substance use, sexual activity, and justice system involvement, a growing community of scholars is focusing on adaptive capacities of young people in response to marginalization and oppression. Such research has illustrated the importance of formal and informal social support and creative expression among young people experiencing homelessness (Bender et al, 2017; Bender, Thompson, McManus, Lantry, & Flynn, 2007; Stewart & Townley, 2020) and the value of critical and participatory opportunities in formal and informal settings where young people gather—sometimes referred to as “youthtopias” (Akom, Cammarota, & Ginwright, 2008). Yet, current models are limited in illustrating the mechanisms which foster adaptive responding; this paper proposes a model which defines the potential structural, functional, and emotional mechanisms of adaptive responding via third place settings.…”