In this paper, an objective concept analysis was undertaken to examine the attributes, characteristics and uses of the concept of empowerment. A review of the literature and selected empirical referents indicated that empowerment is a complex and multi-dimensional concept. Within a nursing context, empowerment can be conceptualized as a composite of (a) attributes that relate to the client, (b) attributes that relate to the nurse, and (c) attributes that belong to both the client and the nurse. In a broad sense, empowerment is a process of helping people to assert control over the factors which affect their lives. This process encompasses both the individual responsibility in health care and the broader institutional, organizational or societal responsibilities in enabling people to assume responsibility for their own health. Antecedents to and consequences of empowerment, from a nursing perspective, are presented. To adopt truly an empowerment model in nursing, a radical paradigm shift is needed. The final conclusion is that this concept has great utility for nursing practice, education, administration and research.

A concept analysis of empowerment

Utilizing 56 outcome studies published between 1974 and 1997, this meta-analysis specifically examines the effect of group treatment with children and adolescents (ages 4-18). Various types of group treatment were assessed, including preventative programs, psychotherapy, counseling, guidance, and training groups. Results indicate that group treatment was significantly more effective for children than wait-list and placebo control groups (effect size = .61). That is, the average child or adolescent treated by group treatment is better off than 73% of those in control groups. This meta-analysis strengthens and supports conclusions in the current literature and challenges others regarding the treatment of children and adolescents by group treatment. For instance, allegiance of the experimenter, setting of the therapy, socioeconomic status of the patient, and publication year of the study were variables that were significantly related to improvement, whereas diagnosis, content and source of the outcome measure were unrelated to improvement.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Child and Adolescent Group Treatment: A Meta-Analytic Review

Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic minority group in the United States. Empowering practice is one method which can effectively meet their needs as both a distinct cultural group and a minority group. This article resents results of an empirical study of how group interaction can affect the personal and political levels of empowerment among Latinos.

Developing Methods to Empower Latinos: The Importance of Groups

A study cannot be a good study unless proper ethical standards have been maintained. This article examines ethical thinking and practice in qualitative social work research. A review of a randomly selected sample of articles published in social work journals in the past decade was conducted, centered around four main issues: (a) prevention of harm; (b) empowerment-related aspects of the research process; (c) research-related benefits for participants and others; and (d) researchers’ technical competence. Our findings suggest that, as a general trend, ethical considerations are marginal in most phases of the studies that are reported in our journals. This raises questions as to the meaning of ‘proper ethical standards’ in qualitative social work research and as to the extent research ethics are regarded as important by researchers and journal editors in our field.

Simmons Ch

Papers

Empowerment for role alternatives in adolescence.