Well being among community activists: What is most crucial to enhance it?

Macro-intervention social workers attempt to improve the coping abilities of neighborhood residents, playing role as community activists, as well as to enhance their well-being. Therefore, social workers utilize the community... [ view full abstract ]

Macro-intervention social workers attempt to improve the coping abilities of neighborhood residents, playing role as community activists, as well as to enhance their well-being. Therefore, social workers utilize the community and personal resources possessed by community activists in an attempt to broaden the scope of community activity. Thus, instead of being recipients of social services, these residents become community leaders and actively participate in solving problems in their communities.
A review of the literature indicates there is a dearth of research on the contribution of community resources and community activity to promoting personal resources and well-being among activists. In an attempt to fill this gap, path analysis were conducted to examine the nature of the relationships between these variables. The dependent variable well-being was considered the "target measure". That is, all of the independent variables: community resources (e.g., social support, community belonging), community-activity variables (e.g., the effectivness of the interventions) and personal resources (e.g., mastery, self-esteem), were examined in relation to this measure.
The sample consisted of 163 activists from low-SES populations (new immigrants, single mothers, residents of low-SES neighborhoods, and people with disabilities).
The findings indicate that in the first level of the path analysis, community activity variables mediate the relationship between community resources and personal resources. In the next level of the path analysis, the personal resources mediate the relationship between community activity variables and well-being. That is, community resources alone are not sufficient to enhance one's personal resources or well-being; individuals also need to be involved in community activity. By doing so, they can enhance their personal resources and as a result, also increase their well-being.
The findings emphasize the positive outcomes of community activity and it also may facilitate the recruitment of community activists. We will discuss the implications of these findings to macro-intervention social work.