Defining Community Boundaries in Health Promotion Research

PURPOSE: A means for integrating subjective experience in the operationalization of community boundaries is described and examined, and a community typology incorporating both psychosocial and structural resources is developed and applied. DESIGN: Small-area sense of belonging was used to delineate broader community boundaries, which were compared with administrative boundaries. Community differences on participation and health were analyzed by using analysis of variance and post hoc tests. SETTING: Data were from face-to-face interviews with residents of a relatively disadvantaged area of a medium-sized Canadian city. SUBJECTS: A sample of 910 individuals was drawn from a population listing of those aged 35 to 65 years in the project area (44% response rate). MEASURES: Measures include sense of belonging; income; community participation; and mental, physical, and perceived health. RESULTS: Data revealed the similarity of community boundaries based on sense of belonging with administrative boundaries. The communities differed significantly in income, community activities attended, and two health measures. The typology indicated the community rich in both income and sense of belonging had higher participation and health than did communities low in both or with mixed resources. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial indicators can be used to delineate community boundaries, which may be similar to administrative boundaries. A typology including both psychosocial and structural components can be a helpful preliminary step in interpreting area differences.