Measuring empowerment in client-run self-help agencies

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Empowerment involves gaining personal control and influencing societal structures.
• Measuring empowerment is crucial for understanding individual and group progress.
• Client-run self-help agencies (SHAs) serve individuals with severe mental disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and validate three distinct measures of empowerment: Personal Empowerment Scale, Organizational Empowerment Scale, and Extra-Organizational Empowerment Scale.
• To assess the psychometric properties of these newly developed scales.
• To provide reliable tools for measuring empowerment in vulnerable populations.

Main Methods:

• Observational work and baseline interviews (N=310) followed by six-month follow-ups (N=241).
• Data collection conducted in four client-run self-help agencies (SHAs).
• Psychometric analysis to establish internal consistency, stability, and construct validity.

Main Results:

• All three scales (Personal, Organizational, Extra-Organizational Empowerment Scales) demonstrated strong internal consistency and stability.
• The scales proved sensitive to user changes over a six-month period.
• Construct validity was established for all three measurement tools.

Conclusions:

• The Personal, Organizational, and Extra-Organizational Empowerment Scales are reliable and valid instruments.
• These scales can effectively track changes in empowerment among individuals with severe mental disabilities.
• The validated scales offer valuable tools for research and practice in mental health and rehabilitation settings.