Being involved and making a difference: empowerment and well-being among women living in poverty

The relationships between poverty, empowerment, and health are of theoretical and practical interest to nurses, yet few researchers have examined volunteerism in poor communities from a holistic health perspective.

This study explores the experiences of women engaged in community volunteer work in the context of economic poverty.

Individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with 8 women, ages 21 to 77 years, who qualified for federal assistance or self-identified as low-income and were currently involved in volunteer community work.

Participants' stories of being involved and making a difference illustrated women making connections, developing relationships, gaining knowledge and skills, increasing self-esteem and confidence, reaching out to help others, and strengthening communities.

At both the individual and community level, well-being was enhanced through women's community volunteerism in the context of economic poverty.

At the individual and community levels, well-being was enhanced through women's community volunteerism in the context of economic poverty. From a holistic nursing perspective, the findings provide support for community volunteerism as a health-promoting strategy among women living in economic poverty.