Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

A Quarter Century of Community Psychology pp 205–235Cite as

Community Settings as Buffers of Life Stress? Highly Supportive Churches, Mutual Help Groups, and Senior Centers

  • Chapter

Abstract

Examined the stress-buffering potential of community settings in three studies. The first study focused on economic stress among 162 members of three churches, the second on bereavement stress among 80 members of eight mutual help groups for bereaved parents, and the third on bereavement stress among 85 members of six senior centers. In each study, high and low support settings were defined by aggregate measures. For churches and mutual help groups, high life stress individuals reported greater well-being in high support than low support settings while low life stress individuals did not differ across settings. Tangible aid receipt (churches) and friendship development (mutual help groups) contributed to the stress-buffering findings. For senior centers, aggregate setting support was related to well-being in main effect fashion. The implications for inquiry and action at the community setting level of analysis are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Amster, L. E. & Krauss, H. H. (1974). The relationship between life crises and mental deterioration in old age. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 5, 51–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bachman, J. G. & O’Malley, P. M. (1977). Self-esteem in young men: A longitudinal analysis of the impact of educational and occupational attainment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35, 365–380.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. & Cohen, P. (1975). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 310–357.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cronkite, R., Moos, R. H., & Finney, J. (1983). The context of adaptation: An integrative perspective on community and treatment environments. In W. A. O’Connor & B. Lubin (Eds.), Ecological models: Applications to clinical and community mental health. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R., Lipman, R. S., Rickels, K., Uhlenhuth, E. H., & Covi, L. (1974). The Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL): A measure of primary symptom dimensions. In P. Pichot (Ed.), Psychological measurements in psychopharmacology. Basel, Switzerland: Karger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis, L. R. & Spencer, P. M. (1982). The brief symptom inventory (BSI): Administration, scoring and procedures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fichter, J. Religion and pain. New York: Crossroad.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelfand, D. E. (1984). The aging network: Programs and services (3rd New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giamartino, G. A. & Wandersman, A. (1983). Organizational climate correlates of viable urban block associations. American Journal of Community Psychology, 11, 529–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holahan, C. J. & Moos, R. H. (1981). Social support and psychological distress: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 90, 365–370.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B. (1957). Two-factor index of social position. Unpublished manuscript, Yale University, New Haven, CT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, T. H. & Rahe, R. H. (1967). The social readjustment scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 77, 213–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacquet, C. H. (Ed.). (1984). Yearbook of American and Canadian churches. Nashville: Abingdon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, D. & Kahn, R. L. (1978). The social psychology of organizations (2nd New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keys, C. B. & Frank, S. (1987). Community psychology and the study of organizations: A reciprocal relationship. American Journal of Community Psychology, 15, 239–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy, L. H. (1976). Self-help groups: Types and psychological processes. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 12, 310–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman, M. A. & Videka-Sherman, L. (1985). The impact of self-help groups on the mental health of widows and widowers. Archives of General Psychiatry, 42, 658–683.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowy, L. (1985). Multipurpose senior centers. In A. Monk (Ed.), Handbook of gerontological services (pp. 274–300). New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNair, D. M., Lorr, M., & Droppleman, L. F. (1981). Profile of mood states manual. San Diego: Educational and Industrial Testing Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maton, K. I. (1986). Economic sharing among members of a religious fellowship: Patterns and psychological correlates. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maton, K. I. (1987). Patterns and psychological correlates of material support within a religious setting: The bidirectional support hypothesis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 15, 185–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maton, K. I. (1988). Social support, organizational characteristics, psychological well-being and group appraisal in three self-help group populations. American Journal of Community Psychology, 16, 53–7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maton, K. I. (1989). The contributory, strengths, bidirectional corrective: Towards role enhancement, strengthened community settings, and cultural multiplicity. Manuscript submitted for publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maton, K. I. (1989). The stress-buffering role of spiritual support: Cross-sectional and prospective investigations. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 28, 310–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maton, K. I. & Pargament, K. I. (1987). Roles of religion in prevention and promotion. In L. A. Jason, R. D. Feiner, R. Hess, & J. N. Mortisugu (Eds.), Prevention: Toward a multidisciplinary approach (pp. 161–206). New York: Haworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maton, K. I. & Rappaport, J. (1984). Empowerment in a religious setting: A multivariate investigation. Prevention in Human Services, 3, 37–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medvene, L. (1985). An organizational theory of self-help groups. Social Policy, 15, 35–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. X, Insel, P. M., & Humphrey, B. (1974). Preliminary manual for family environment scale, work environment scale, and group environment scale. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. H. & Lemke, S. (1984). Supportive residential settings for older people. In I. Altman, M. P. Lawton, & J. F. Wohlwill (Eds.), Elderly people and the environment (pp. 159–190). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. H. & Moos, B. S. (1983). Adaptation and the quality of life in work and family settings. Journal of Community Psychology, 11, 158–170.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. H., Shelton, R., & Petty, C (1973). Perceived ward climate and treatment outcome. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 82, 291–298.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moos, R. H. & Van Dort, B. (1979). Student physical symptoms and the social climate of college living groups. American Journal of Community Psychology, 7, 31–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nam, C B. & Powers, M. G. (1968). Changes in the relative status level of workers in the United States, 1950-1960. Social Forces, 47, 158–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I., Silverman, W., Johnson, S., Echemendia, R., & Snyder, S. (1983). The psychosocial climate of religious congregations. American Journal of Community Psychology, 11, 351–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, T. J. (1987). Self-help organizations and professional practice. Silver Springs, MD.: National Association of Social Workers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prestby, J. E. & Wandersman, A. (1985). An empirical exploration of a framework of organiza-tional viability: Maintaining block organizations. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 21, 287–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rousseau, D. M. (1985). Issues of level in organizational research: Multi-level and cross-level perspectives. Research in Organizational Behavior, 7, 1–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarason, S. B. (1982). The culture of the school and the problem of change (2nd Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shinn, M. (1987). Expanding community psychology’s domain. American Journal of Community Psychology, 15, 555–573.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shinn, M. (1990). Mixing and matching: Levels of conceptualization, measurement, and statistical analysis in community research. In P. H. Tolan, C Keys, F. Chertok, & L. Jason (Eds.), Researching community psychology: Integrating theories and methods (pp. 111–126). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, V. G. & Maton, K. I. (1988). Domains of life stress, directionality of social support, and well-being in the elderly. Manuscript in preparation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Withey, S. B. & Andrews (1976). Social indicators of well-being: Americans’ perceptions of life quality. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Kenneth I. Maton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Graduate Center of the City, University of New York, New York, New York, USA

    Tracey A. Revenson (Senior Editor) & David Livert (Senior Editor) & 

  2. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Anthony R. D’Augelli

  3. University of California, Riverside, California, USA

    Sabine E. French

  4. New York University, New York, New York, USA

    Diane L. Hughes , Edward Seidman , Marybeth Shinn  & Hirokazu Yoshikawa , ,  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Maton, K.I. (2002). Community Settings as Buffers of Life Stress? Highly Supportive Churches, Mutual Help Groups, and Senior Centers. In: Revenson, T.A., et al. A Quarter Century of Community Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8646-7_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8646-7_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-46730-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-8646-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation