The Social Cure
The Social Cure

Author: Jolanda Jetten

Publisher: Psychology Press

Published: 2012-01-25

Total Pages: 409

ISBN-13: 1136698264

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A growing body of research shows that social networks and identities have a profound impact on mental and physical health. With such mounting evidence of the importance of social relationships in protecting health, the challenge we face is explaining why this should be the case. What is it that social groups offer that appears to be just as beneficial as a daily dose of vitamin C or regular exercise? This edited book brings together the latest research on how group memberships, and the social identities associated with them, determine people’s health and well-being. The volume provides a variety of perspectives from clinical, social, organisational and applied fields that offer theoretical and empirical insights into these processes and their consequences. The contributions present a rich and novel analysis of core theoretical issues relating to the ways in which social identities, and factors associated with them (such as social support and a sense of community), can bolster individuals’ sense of self and contribute to physical and mental health. In this way it is shown how social identities constitute a ‘social cure’, capable of promoting adjustment, coping and well-being for individuals dealing with a range of illnesses, injuries, trauma and stressors. In addition, these theories provide a platform for practical strategies that can maintain and enhance well-being, particularly among vulnerable populations. Contributors to the book are at the forefront of these developments and the book’s strength derives from its analysis of factors that shape the health and well-being of a broad range of groups. It presents powerful insights which have important implications for health, clinical, social and organisational psychology and a range of cognate fields.

Exploring LGBT Spaces and Communities
Exploring LGBT Spaces and Communities

Author: Eleanor Formby

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2017-06-27

Total Pages: 229

ISBN-13: 1317602412

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The phrase ‘LGBT community’ is often used by policy-makers, service providers, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people themselves, but what does it mean? What understandings and experiences does that term suggest, and ignore? Based on a UK-wide study funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, this book explores these questions from the perspectives of over 600 research participants. Examining ideas about community ‘ownership’; ‘difference’ and diversity; relational practices within and beyond physical spaces; imagined communities and belongings; the importance of ‘ritual’ spaces and symbols, and consequences for wellbeing, the book foregrounds the lived experience of LGBT people to offer a broad analysis of commonalities and divergences in relation to LGBT identities. Drawing on an interdisciplinary perspective grounded in international social science research, the book will appeal to students and scholars with interests in sexual and/or gender identities in the fields of community studies, cultural studies, gender studies, geography, leisure studies, politics, psychology, sexuality studies, social policy, social work, socio-legal studies, and sociology. The book also offers implications for practice, suitable for policy-maker, practitioner, and activist audiences, as well as those with a more personal interest.

Working Together
Working Together

Author: Pat Dudgeon

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 588

ISBN-13: 9780977597536

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This resource is written for health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing social and emotional wellbeing issues and mental health conditions. It provides information on the issues influencing mental health, good mental health practice, and strategies for working with specific groups. Over half of the authors in this second edition are Indigenous people themselves, reflecting the growing number ?of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts who are writing and adding to the body of knowledge around mental health and associated areas.

Pacific Identities and Well-Being
Pacific Identities and Well-Being

Author: Margaret Nelson Agee

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-03-05

Total Pages: 310

ISBN-13: 1136287264

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Filling a significant gap in the cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary literature within the field of Pasifika (Polynesian) and Maori identities and mental health, this volume focuses on bridging mental health related research and practice within the indigenous communities of the South Pacific. Much of the content reflects both differences from and relationships with the dominant Western theories and practices so often unsuccessfully applied with these groups. The contributors represent both experienced researchers and practitioners and address topics such as research examining traditional and emerging Pasifika identities; contemporary research and practice in working with Pasifika youth and adolescents; culturally-appropriate approaches for working with Pasifika adults; and practices in supervision that have been developed by Maori and Pasifika practitioners. Chapters include practice scenarios, research reports, analyses of topical issues, and discussions about the appropriateness of applying Western theory in other cultural contexts. As Pasifika cultures are still primarily oral cultures, the works of several leading Maori and Pasifika poets that give voice to the changing identities and contemporary challenges within Pacific communities are also included.

Confident Identities, Connected Communities: Building Cohesion Through Shared Experiences
Confident Identities, Connected Communities: Building Cohesion Through Shared Experiences

Author: Chan-hoong Leong

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2023-11-17

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13: 981128539X

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This book aims to promote greater understanding of social cohesion amidst existing complexities of faith and identity, and what it portends for our future.Social cohesion defies easy definition; yet, every pursuit of social cohesiveness requires nurture, patience and a consensus that it is germane to the success of any community. Indeed, challenges abound, developments such as the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving geopolitical tensions, and a rise in access to technology impact social cohesion. In such times, it is pertinent to maintain on-going conversations revolving around social cohesion to bridge the divides through diversity and technology.This book continues to build on the conversations from the second edition of the International Conference of Cohesive Society (ICCS), held from 6-8 September 2022 in Singapore. Over 25 essays across three ICCS 2022 themes — How Faith Can Bridge Divides, Diversity, and Technology — present international and interdisciplinary perspectives in building confident identities and connected communities.

Communities in Action
Communities in Action

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2017-04-27

Total Pages: 583

ISBN-13: 0309452961

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In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

The Role of Language in the Wellbeing of Migrants
The Role of Language in the Wellbeing of Migrants

Author: Zi Wang

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2022-03-10

Total Pages: 198

ISBN-13: 1000551547

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This book examines the correlations between language behaviour and happiness amongst communities of migrants, and addresses the overarching question of whether language can affect wellbeing. Zi Wang takes an innovative look at migration and wellbeing by examining the crucial role language – a quintessential part of the international migration experience – plays in migrants’ wellbeing. Drawing on case studies from Chinese and Japanese-speaking communities in Germany, as well as secondary survey data on the general migrant population, Wang shows that proficiency in both host country and heritage languages is associated with robust enhancements of migrants’ subjective wellbeing. He argues that acquisition of host country language and the preservation and promotion of heritage culture should not be portrayed as a zero-sum game by stakeholders in host societies. Instead, we ought to consider the unique experiences of migrants in order to fully comprehend the ways in which they experience, evaluate, and pursue happiness in a host society. Presenting a novel approach to the study of migrants’ wellbeing, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of area studies, education, international migration, sociology of language, and wellbeing research.

Sense of Place, Health and Quality of Life
Sense of Place, Health and Quality of Life

Author: John Eyles

Publisher: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 246

ISBN-13: 9780754673323

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This important book brings together work related to sense of place and health, broadly defined, from the perspective of a variety of fields and disciplines. It will give the reader an understanding of both the range of applications of this construct withi

Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations
Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2021-01-23

Total Pages: 437

ISBN-13: 0309680816

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The increase in prevalence and visibility of sexually gender diverse (SGD) populations illuminates the need for greater understanding of the ways in which current laws, systems, and programs affect their well-being. Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, or intersex, as well as those who express same-sex or -gender attractions or behaviors, will have experiences across their life course that differ from those of cisgender and heterosexual individuals. Characteristics such as age, race and ethnicity, and geographic location intersect to play a distinct role in the challenges and opportunities SGD people face. Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations reviews the available evidence and identifies future research needs related to the well-being of SDG populations across the life course. This report focuses on eight domains of well-being; the effects of various laws and the legal system on SGD populations; the effects of various public policies and structural stigma; community and civic engagement; families and social relationships; education, including school climate and level of attainment; economic experiences (e.g., employment, compensation, and housing); physical and mental health; and health care access and gender-affirming interventions. The recommendations of Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations aim to identify opportunities to advance understanding of how individuals experience sexuality and gender and how sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status affect SGD people over the life course.

Community Well-Being and Public Welfare
Community Well-Being and Public Welfare

Author: Allan M. Collautt

Publisher: Xlibris Corporation

Published: 2005-12-07

Total Pages: 198

ISBN-13: 1450069525

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The subject of this book is public welfare systems and practical opportunities for their dramatic improvement in the areas of administrative and financial management. The recommended approach is founded on meaningful participation of local communities in many critical decisions toward effective functioning of public systems and measurable outcomes of this functioning from the community perspective. Increased role of local communities and their members is not envisioned on the basis of a weakening coordination and control by governmental authorities. To the contrary, elements of self-administration and active community involvement are expected to make public bureaucracies more effective, when assessed by their constituencies. The author of the book does not profess to be an expert on all systems of public services, especially considering that the term public services itself lacks clarity and may prompt a lengthy discussion. Assuming that the term public services embodies what a government does for its community, it is obvious that it encompasses many fields of activity and many industries. Nevertheless, the author maintains that numerous areas of government involvement toward serving its constituencies have much in common, which warrants an opportunity to design and implement a uniform approach for solving basic administrative and financial management problems. The author holds that the foundation of such universal approach is community participation and community-based philosophy of service delivery. Not all public services systems seem equally requiring improvement or overhaul. Our country appears to be in desperate need for innovative and effective solutions in those areas of government involvement that focus on special populations especially when their memberships are comprised of those who are often called disadvantaged. For such systems of public assistance the recommendations presented in this book should not be seen as a panacea but as a guide and a general direction. If one accepts the tenets of this book, its founding values, and its suggested course of action, one would necessarily realize that each implementation of the recommendations herein would take its own path meandering along the straight line charted by the author.