Community Psychology Research

Research

Research within the field of Community Psychology seeks to systematically understand and promote health and empowerment. Research in the field also works to prevent problems in communities, groups, and individuals.

Community Psychology Research

Double-Edged Policy? Consequences of the COVID-19-Related Eviction Moratorium

Posted in: Housing | Tags: Research
Published in: American Journal of Community Psychology
Eviction moratoriums like the one enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic may have different consequences on housing instability. More work is needed to develop policies to protect the unstably housed in cases of natural emergencies.

How Health Coalitions Can Embrace Indigenous Ways of Knowing

Posted in: Healthcare, Marginalized Groups | Tags: Research
Research and evaluation can be pursued collaboratively with greater shared power between community and university partners.

Mental Well-Being in Men of Color

Posted in: Marginalized Groups, Mental Health | Tags: Research
Published in: Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
We can use lived experience to generate strategies to enhance the mental health and well-being of men of color.

Asset Mapping: Why to Ask Why

Posted in: Coalition Building | Tags: Research
Susan Jakes suggests the “why” we value certain assets in our community might be very different for the community members than for the professionals that come to help.

More than Filling Empty Bellies: How Food Banks are Evolving to Nourish Community Health

Posted in: Marginalized Groups, Poverty and Socioeconomic Status, Public Policy | Tags: Research
Food insecurity is related to poor nutrition and many other negative health outcomes. Food banks can and should implement nutrition policies.

Supporting After-School Staff and Programs

Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Education | Tags: Research
Supporting staff can strengthen program quality and youth development. We recommend staff look for teachable moments that occur naturally during sports and recreation.

The Psychological Value of Activism

Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Marginalized Groups | Tags: Research
Published in: American Journal of Community Psychology
LGBTQ & GNC youth experience economic hardships and social stress in ways that continue to pose a threat to their health and well-being. Engaging in activist efforts can potentially improve their health in addition to furthering social change.

Photograph of kids in an afterschool program

Improving After-School Programming

Posted in: Children, Youth and Families, Sense of Community | Tags: Research
Published in: American Journal of Community Psychology
We can improve the effectiveness of afterschool programs by setting high expectations for youth, encouraging staff teamwork and engagement, and providing opportunities for staff to personally identify with youth they are serving.

Photograph of Ponte Galeria Train Station

What is Life Like in an Immigrant Detention Center?

Posted in: Immigrant Justice, Marginalized Groups, Public Policy, Sense of Community | Tags: Research
The inhumanity of detention has far reaching effects on communities outside of the detention facility.

Teach the Children Well: Social Justice in College Predicts Preference for Socially Responsible Jobs

Posted in: Education | Tags: Research
Taking a social justice focused course or participating in extracurricular volunteering made it more likely for students to want to work for a socially responsible company.