At the core of every community development organization lies a common goal: improving the quality of life for target populations. These organizations are particularly interested in underserved communities facing challenges such as hunger and housing access.
While community development professionals may take different approaches, they understand that quality of life measures — such as economic opportunity, equality and social justice — can only be achieved through the empowerment and education of people within their communities, according to the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP). Through Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology – Community Psychology program, students learn how to implement the latest research-based development tools to ensure that clients and entire communities experience improved quality of life outcomes.
Defining Quality of Life
If a community development professional interviewed 10 potential clients, they would find 10 distinct definitions of quality of life because each person assigns different amounts of importance to each aspect of their lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines quality of life as an individual’s perception of their position in life in relation to their community’s cultural and value systems as well as their individual expectations, goals, concerns and standards.
While people may evaluate well-being in their own way, the WHO uses an assessment tool to measure quality of life outcomes globally. According to an article on the effectiveness of this tool, the instrument measures well-being by asking a series of questions covering four core areas: physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environmental health.
While physical health includes survey questions about mobility, daily activities, sleep, pain and energy, psychological health looks at self-image, negative thoughts, positive attitudes, religion and memory concentration, among other factors. The social relationships questions assess the level of social support and personal relationships an individual has, while environmental health looks at financial resources, safety, health and social services, the person’s physical and natural environment, transportation and ability to learn new skills.
These measures of well-being increasingly shape policy at the local, national and global levels. Economic indicators, such as income, gross domestic product and unemployment, do not fully capture what people value in their quality of life, according to an article in the academic journal World Development. In turn, community development professionals have tremendous opportunities to impact social and psychological health through programs tailored to their communities.
Intersection of Community Development and Quality of Life
Social and community development professionals often work in the social services, nonprofit and human resources fields. In those roles, they play a crucial part in connecting individuals to the services they need to improve their own well-being and overall quality of life in their communities. Community development efforts can reduce common stress factors that contribute to mental health challenges by reducing financial stress stemming from housing costs, economic opportunities and unsafe neighborhoods, according to a report by Build Healthy Places Network and NeighborWorks.
Several Oklahoma groups are leading these efforts, including the Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, Oklahoma Main Street and Oklahoma City Community Foundation (OCCF) The Brandywine Center addresses several elements of community well-being, offering affordable rental housing for low-income seniors and a children’s library alongside comprehensive physical and mental health services. Pathways Vermont’s state-supported Housing First Program provides permanent supportive housing and short-term rental assistance for chronically homeless people, reducing hospitalization and incarceration rates in the area.
Learn How to Boost Community Well-Being With Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Graduates specializing in community psychology enter their careers with a greater understanding of the concepts that make these programs successful. Southeastern’s online B.A. in Psychology – Community Psychology program provides students with a broad base of knowledge in psychological concepts.
The Multicultural Psychology course, part of the major’s core curriculum, helps students understand the unique value systems among people of various ethnic and sociocultural backgrounds. By emphasizing historical context and other factors that shape perceptions and individual behavior, students leave the course with the tools to navigate different cultural environments.
Community psychology students also complete four courses specific to their major, including Community Evaluation and Planning. The course digs into theories, approaches, methodology and tools for developing community-level programs and interventions. Graduates leave the program armed with research-based strategies to implement in their communities. Some graduates may also pursue roles such as market research analysts, where their background in behavioral science provides a useful context for interpreting consumer behavior and market trends.
Upon graduation from Southeastern’s online B.A. in Psychology – Community Psychology program, rising professionals are prepared to design and execute programs that raise the bar for quality of life in their communities. A bachelor’s degree in psychology is also a strong foundation for graduate study in fields such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling and social work. Regardless of their career path, graduates have the tools to make a difference for vulnerable populations.
Learn more about Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – Community Psychology program.