Exploring the impact of community change in the context of urban regeneration schemes: An analysis of the proposed psychological processes involved in creating successful and sustainable communities
Heath, S
Date: 26 July 2021
Publisher
University of Exeter
Degree Title
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Abstract
Urban regeneration schemes are adopted by councils and governments globally to address some of the social and economic problems in ‘under-achieving’ communities. However, despite the large-scale change that such initiatives bring to communities, there is little research to date that focuses on the health and well-being impacts of such ...
Urban regeneration schemes are adopted by councils and governments globally to address some of the social and economic problems in ‘under-achieving’ communities. However, despite the large-scale change that such initiatives bring to communities, there is little research to date that focuses on the health and well-being impacts of such strategies. This project was developed to investigate the inter- and intra-group dynamics of residential diversification to enable us to develop a better understanding of the psychological processes involved in large-scale community change in the urban regeneration context. Across the breadth of this project, I explore the impact of urban regeneration on well-being and resilience and develop an understanding of the possible drivers of engagement within a community context. Firstly, in Chapter 3, I develop our understanding of the different inter- and intra-group dynamics of residential diversification through the perspective of those residents who live in a regenerated area. Overall, this study suggests that a lack of community-based identity leads to feelings of loneliness and segregation and further serves to undermine well-being and resilience. Next, In Chapter 5, I found that group-based identification is positively linked to increased reports of psychological well-being, resilience and a willingness to engage with, and pay back to the community. Furthermore, these results were tested longitudinally and support the idea of a cyclical, positive relationship between identification and outcomes of well-being, resilience and pay back. Finally, in Chapter 6, I demonstrate that group-based identification can be increased through a targeted intervention that focuses on identity building techniques and translate into positive outcomes of well-being, resilience, a willingness to pay back to the community, community-based aspirations and reduced feelings of loneliness. The research overall highlights the importance of understanding inter- and intra-group processes when addressing large-scale community change (i.e., through urban regeneration schemes). Furthermore, it is suggested that regeneration strategies adopt a theoretically grounded approach to community change that puts the well-being and engagement of residing community members at its core and, importantly, incorporates identity-building techniques to help develop a cohesive, adaptable, and sustainable community post-regeneration.
Doctoral Theses
Doctoral College
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