Empowerment praxis in community coalitions

Area of Science:

• Community organization
• Public health
• Social psychology

Background:

• Community coalitions are vital for addressing societal issues and fostering self-determination.
• They provide a unique setting for studying individual and organizational empowerment.
• This research focuses on coalitions addressing alcohol and drug prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify individual characteristics linked to psychological empowerment in coalition members.
• To determine organizational factors associated with collective member empowerment.
• To examine organizational characteristics that predict an empowered coalition capable of achieving its objectives.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from 35 community coalitions focused on alcohol and drug prevention.
• Analysis of individual characteristics influencing psychological empowerment.
• Assessment of organizational characteristics related to collective and organizational empowerment.

Main Results:

• Individual psychological empowerment is strongly linked to participation levels, sense of community, and positive organizational climate.
• Collective empowerment is best predicted by perceived net benefits of participation, commitment, and positive organizational climate.
• Organizational effectiveness is predicted by psychological empowerment and a positive organizational climate.

Conclusions:

• Individual and organizational factors significantly influence empowerment within community coalitions.
• A positive organizational climate is crucial for both individual empowerment and overall organizational effectiveness.
• Findings offer insights for enhancing coalition functioning in community problem-solving efforts.