How can social enterprises impact health and well-being?
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research
ISSN: 1355-2554
Article publication date: 12 July 2017
Issue publication date: 11 May 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of social enterprise on individual and community health and well-being. It focusses on community food initiatives, their impact on the social determinants of health and the influence of structure on their outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
Using an interpretive qualitative approach through case studies focussed on two community food social enterprises, the research team conducted observations, interviews and ad hoc conversations.
Findings
Researchers found that social enterprises impacted all layers of the social determinants of health model but that there was greater impact on individual lifestyle factors and social and community networks. Impact at the higher socio-economic, cultural and environmental layer was more constrained. There was also evidence of the structural factors both enabling and constraining impact at all levels.
Practical implications
This study helps to facilitate understanding on the role of social enterprises as a key way for individuals and communities to work together to build their capabilities and resilience when facing health inequalities. Building upon previous work, it provides insight into the practices, limitations and challenges of those engaged in encouraging and supporting behavioural changes.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to a deeper insight of the use, motivation and understanding of social enterprise as an operating model by community food initiatives. It provides evidence of the impact of such social enterprises on the social determinants of health and uses structuration theory (Giddens, 1984) to explore how structure both influences and constrains the impact of these enterprises.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “Challenging tensions and contradictions: critical, theoretical and empirical perspectives on social enterprise”, guest edited by Michael Bull, Rory Ridley-Duff, Geoffrey Whittam and Susan Baines.
Citation
Gordon, K., Wilson, J., Tonner, A. and Shaw, E. (2018), "How can social enterprises impact health and well-being?", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 697-713. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-01-2017-0022
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited