Sense of community, participation, and life satisfaction among Hispanic immigrants in rural Nebraska

Abstract

The influx of Hispanic immigrants into rural areas of the United States has created demographic, economic, and social change within communities. Sense of community, a psychological construct that includes membership, influence, fulfilment of needs, and a shared emotional connection between community members, is a vital element in assessing the integration of immigrants into a community. This study used a sequential explanatory mixed methods design to describe and examine sense of community, community participation, and life satisfaction among Hispanic immigrants from two communities in rural Nebraska (N = 180 survey participants; N = 53 focus groups participants). The results indicated that participants felt a sense of community. Sense of community was significantly positively correlated with community participation, r = 0.29, p < 0.01, and life satisfaction, r = 0.31, p < 0.01. Participants identified that being part of the community was more than just sharing a geographic space. It encompassed a feeling of belonging, unity, and acceptance as well as a willingness to help others and participate. Respondents had participated in their communities by volunteering, donating to community organizations, talking to others about community issues, and participating in associations. The vast majority of participants were satisfied with their lives. Using linear regression, sense of community was found to be a significant predictor of both community participation, R 2 = 0.37, F(6, 168) = 16.45, p = 0.000, and life satisfaction, R 2 = 0.13, F(6, 168) = 4.00, p = 0.001. Implications of improving social well-being among rural Hispanic immigrants in the United States are discussed.

Trust, Sociability, and Quality of Life of Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Germany

“…However, for male SSA migrants', age and duration of stay in Germany negatively influence the QoL. This is in contrast to evidence that living in a place for an extended period supports community interaction (Ramos et al, 2017). The traditional backgrounds of SSA may be accountable for the disparity in the experience of male and female migrants' QoL in Germany based on the noncontributing factors of income, education, and length of stay in Germany for female SSA migrants.…”

“I Feel Like We’re Going Backwards:” Post-Presidential Election Resilience in Latinx Community Members

“…While the adversities experienced should in no way be minimized by this display of resilience afterward, it was notable that most participants viewed the hardship as a catalyst for perseverance and service in seeking social justice. This sense of community and its sustaining qualities has been explicated in other literature which suggests that the strength of bonding among community members and a willingness to accept and help others may assist in the healing process after adverse situations (Ramos, Suarez, Leon, & Trinidad, 2017;Schultz et al, 2016). For these participants, it seems that the role of connection to their community created a sense of unity and responsibility to speak on their experiences as well as a desire to take action.…”

How Far Have we Come? An Integrative Review of the Current Literature on Sense of Community and Well‐being

“…Findings from these studies reveal that PSOC and subjective well-being were significantly and positively associated among adults from a range of countries (the United States, Italy, China), from variously sized townships, and controlling for other factors such as resilience and senior services (Davidson & Cotter, 1991;Ditchman, Keegan, Batchos, Haak, & Johnson, 2017;Hilbrecht, Lero, Schryer, Mock, & Smale, 2017;Mak, Cheung, & Law, 2009;Moscato, Novara, Hombrados-Mendieta, Romano, & Lavanco, 2014;Ng & Fisher, 2016;Obst & Tham, 2009;Prezza et al, 2001;Prezza & Costantini, 1998;Ramos, Suarez, Leon, & Trinidad, 2017;Zhang, Yu, Zhang, & Zhou, 2017;Zhang, Zhang, Zhou, & Yu, 2018). More specifically, PSOC and subjective well-being demonstrated a positive relationship among adults in the United States (Davidson & Cotter, 1991); residents in various communities in Italy (Prezza et al, 2001;Prezza & Costantini, 1998); Chinese residents in Hong Kong and Beijing (Mak et al, 2009;Ng & Fisher, 2016;Zhang et al, 2017; Hispanic immigrants in rural Nebraska (Ramos et al, 2017); migrants in Italy (Moscato et al, 2014); and churchgoers in Australia (Obst & Tham, 2009), where the influence dimension of PSOC (SCI; was specifically related to life satisfaction (SWLS;Diener et al, 1985).…”