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Improving Wellbeing Through Local Communities: A Mixed Methods Study on the Role of Relationship Building

LOWRI WILKIE, Sian Roderick Orcid Logo, Zoe Fisher Orcid Logo, ALINA DRAY, Peter Granger, Andrew Kemp Orcid Logo

Journal of Happiness Studies, Volume: 26, Issue: 3, Start page: 47

Swansea University Authors: LOWRI WILKIE, Sian Roderick Orcid Logo, Zoe Fisher Orcid Logo, ALINA DRAY, Andrew Kemp Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1007/s10902-025-00871-x

Abstract

Given the rising demands of chronic conditions and mental health challenges, there is an urgent need to reduce burden on formal, statutory services. Local communities are under-utilised yet offer many opportunities to facilitate the key determinants of health and wellbeing. Local Area Coordination (...

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Published in: Journal of Happiness Studies
ISSN: 1389-4978 1573-7780
Published: Springer Nature 2025
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69006
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Local communities are under-utilised yet offer many opportunities to facilitate the key determinants of health and wellbeing. Local Area Coordination (LAC) provides a practical, asset-based approach in which purposefully recruited coordinators meet and build relationships with community members, use their strengths and leverage community assets to help them build their version of &#x2018;the good life&#x2019;. Here we report on the impact of LAC on wellbeing outcomes and explore potential mechanisms underpinning the approach. A rigorous mixed-methods design was implemented including data from psychophysiological synchrony, a quantitative survey, and qualitative ripple effects mapping. The presence of in-phase cardiac synchrony was found during conversations between coordinators and community members, suggesting physiological attunement during interaction. Survey data analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling found that relationship rapport significantly predicted community integration, which in turn, predicted the wellbeing of community members. Longer meeting durations predicted improved relationship rapport, whilst the frequency of meetings did not. Qualitative feedback indicated that the person-centred approach was a key mechanism underpinning its success and that fostering a safe, trusting relationship is crucial for bridging people into the community. 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spelling 2025-03-14T14:28:33.1611280 v2 69006 2025-03-03 Improving Wellbeing Through Local Communities: A Mixed Methods Study on the Role of Relationship Building df376bd4ece8b9c12f075208fe09c250 LOWRI WILKIE LOWRI WILKIE true false 8c890909ada2a7d1afe7d18331299350 0000-0002-5865-167X Sian Roderick Sian Roderick true false b7d5965d35de6f683716c6eb1e82ff81 0000-0001-8150-2499 Zoe Fisher Zoe Fisher true false ed717708f0540b9d4af8004ceb3d041d ALINA DRAY ALINA DRAY true false dfd05900f0e2409d3f67dca227c59a93 0000-0003-1146-3791 Andrew Kemp Andrew Kemp true false 2025-03-03 Given the rising demands of chronic conditions and mental health challenges, there is an urgent need to reduce burden on formal, statutory services. Local communities are under-utilised yet offer many opportunities to facilitate the key determinants of health and wellbeing. Local Area Coordination (LAC) provides a practical, asset-based approach in which purposefully recruited coordinators meet and build relationships with community members, use their strengths and leverage community assets to help them build their version of ‘the good life’. Here we report on the impact of LAC on wellbeing outcomes and explore potential mechanisms underpinning the approach. A rigorous mixed-methods design was implemented including data from psychophysiological synchrony, a quantitative survey, and qualitative ripple effects mapping. The presence of in-phase cardiac synchrony was found during conversations between coordinators and community members, suggesting physiological attunement during interaction. Survey data analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling found that relationship rapport significantly predicted community integration, which in turn, predicted the wellbeing of community members. Longer meeting durations predicted improved relationship rapport, whilst the frequency of meetings did not. Qualitative feedback indicated that the person-centred approach was a key mechanism underpinning its success and that fostering a safe, trusting relationship is crucial for bridging people into the community. Overall, Local Area Coordination’s community-led approach is a promising opportunity to harness community assets, empower individuals, and contribute to a more inclusive and connected society. Journal Article Journal of Happiness Studies 26 3 47 Springer Nature 1389-4978 1573-7780 Community; Wellbeing; Heart-rate variability; Relationships; Health and social care 10 3 2025 2025-03-10 10.1007/s10902-025-00871-x COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University SU Library paid the OA fee (TA Institutional Deal) Research Wales Innovation Fund (RWIF) 2025-03-14T14:28:33.1611280 2025-03-03T09:41:01.7038840 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology LOWRI WILKIE 1 Sian Roderick 0000-0002-5865-167X 2 Zoe Fisher 0000-0001-8150-2499 3 ALINA DRAY 4 Peter Granger 5 Andrew Kemp 0000-0003-1146-3791 6 69006__33776__9c4aceeec7784aa78a949fe6e7408ddb.pdf s10902-025-00871-x.pdf 2025-03-11T09:57:36.7708000 Output 1747426 application/pdf Version of Record true © The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Improving Wellbeing Through Local Communities: A Mixed Methods Study on the Role of Relationship Building
spellingShingle Improving Wellbeing Through Local Communities: A Mixed Methods Study on the Role of Relationship Building
LOWRI WILKIE
Sian Roderick
Zoe Fisher
ALINA DRAY
Andrew Kemp
title_short Improving Wellbeing Through Local Communities: A Mixed Methods Study on the Role of Relationship Building
title_full Improving Wellbeing Through Local Communities: A Mixed Methods Study on the Role of Relationship Building
title_fullStr Improving Wellbeing Through Local Communities: A Mixed Methods Study on the Role of Relationship Building
title_full_unstemmed Improving Wellbeing Through Local Communities: A Mixed Methods Study on the Role of Relationship Building
title_sort Improving Wellbeing Through Local Communities: A Mixed Methods Study on the Role of Relationship Building
author_id_str_mv df376bd4ece8b9c12f075208fe09c250
8c890909ada2a7d1afe7d18331299350
b7d5965d35de6f683716c6eb1e82ff81
ed717708f0540b9d4af8004ceb3d041d
dfd05900f0e2409d3f67dca227c59a93
author_id_fullname_str_mv df376bd4ece8b9c12f075208fe09c250_***_LOWRI WILKIE
8c890909ada2a7d1afe7d18331299350_***_Sian Roderick
b7d5965d35de6f683716c6eb1e82ff81_***_Zoe Fisher
ed717708f0540b9d4af8004ceb3d041d_***_ALINA DRAY
dfd05900f0e2409d3f67dca227c59a93_***_Andrew Kemp
author LOWRI WILKIE
Sian Roderick
Zoe Fisher
ALINA DRAY
Andrew Kemp
author2 LOWRI WILKIE
Sian Roderick
Zoe Fisher
ALINA DRAY
Peter Granger
Andrew Kemp
format Journal article
container_title Journal of Happiness Studies
container_volume 26
container_issue 3
container_start_page 47
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
issn 1389-4978
1573-7780
doi_str_mv 10.1007/s10902-025-00871-x
publisher Springer Nature
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Psychology{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Psychology
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Given the rising demands of chronic conditions and mental health challenges, there is an urgent need to reduce burden on formal, statutory services. Local communities are under-utilised yet offer many opportunities to facilitate the key determinants of health and wellbeing. Local Area Coordination (LAC) provides a practical, asset-based approach in which purposefully recruited coordinators meet and build relationships with community members, use their strengths and leverage community assets to help them build their version of ‘the good life’. Here we report on the impact of LAC on wellbeing outcomes and explore potential mechanisms underpinning the approach. A rigorous mixed-methods design was implemented including data from psychophysiological synchrony, a quantitative survey, and qualitative ripple effects mapping. The presence of in-phase cardiac synchrony was found during conversations between coordinators and community members, suggesting physiological attunement during interaction. Survey data analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling found that relationship rapport significantly predicted community integration, which in turn, predicted the wellbeing of community members. Longer meeting durations predicted improved relationship rapport, whilst the frequency of meetings did not. Qualitative feedback indicated that the person-centred approach was a key mechanism underpinning its success and that fostering a safe, trusting relationship is crucial for bridging people into the community. Overall, Local Area Coordination’s community-led approach is a promising opportunity to harness community assets, empower individuals, and contribute to a more inclusive and connected society.
published_date 2025-03-10T12:21:34Z
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