Examining associations between health, wellbeing and social capital: findings from a survey developed and conducted using participatory action research
Journal of Public Mental Health
ISSN: 1746-5729
Article publication date: 13 August 2018
Issue publication date: 4 September 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to employ innovative methods to examine the associations between personal wellbeing, self-rated health and various aspects of social capital within a socio-economically disadvantaged town in northern England.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was developed and administered with input from local stakeholders (including residents), using a participatory action research (PAR) approach. In total, 11 lay interviewers were trained to pilot and deliver the final survey, which was completed either in person or online. In total, 233 valid surveys were returned.
Findings
Respondents were aged between 17 and 87 years (mean 47.3, SD 17.4), 65.7 per cent were female and 46.2 per cent identified themselves as having a longstanding illness, disability or infirmity. Overall, respondents reported lower levels of personal wellbeing and social capital in comparison with UK averages, although free-text responses highlighted a strong sense of community spirit and pride in the town. Low wellbeing was strongly associated with poor health, social isolation and neighbourhood factors such as perceived lack of community safety and trust.
Research limitations/implications
PAR appears to be an acceptable approach in generating estimates of population characteristics associated with personal wellbeing.
Practical implications
The findings of this study may be used by policymakers to design services and interventions to better meet the needs of communities characterised by indicators of poor health and wellbeing.
Originality/value
This work constitutes part of a global trend to measure personal and societal wellbeing. A novel methodology has been used to examine the factors that influence wellbeing at a neighbourhood level.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all of those who gave up their time to complete the Wellbeing in Shildon survey. It would not have been possible to undertake this work without the efforts of the Health Express staff and volunteers, who piloted and carried out the survey in the local community. Members of the Shildon Health Express steering group provided invaluable input into the survey development and administration processes, as well as providing constructive feedback on the preliminary findings. Dr Peter Tennant from the University of Leeds provided statistical advice and commented on a draft of the manuscript. The authors declare that they have no competing interests. This work was funded by Durham County Council Public Health Team, the employer of GG and CS. SV, SS and NC are members of Fuse (UKCRC Centre for Translational Research in Public Health) (MRC Grant Ref. No. MR/K02325X/1). Funding for Fuse comes from the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health Research, under the auspices of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, and is gratefully acknowledged. The views expressed in this paper do not necessarily represent those of the funders or the UKCRC.
Citation
Visram, S., Smith, S., Connor, N., Greig, G. and Scorer, C. (2018), "Examining associations between health, wellbeing and social capital: findings from a survey developed and conducted using participatory action research", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 122-134. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-09-2017-0035
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited