title: Being involved and making a difference: empowerment and well-being among women living in poverty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationships between poverty, empowerment, and health are of theoretical and practical interest to nurses, yet few researchers have examined volunteerism in poor communities from a holistic health perspective.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study explores the experiences of women engaged in community volunteer work in the context of economic poverty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with 8 women, ages 21 to 77 years, who qualified for federal assistance or self-identified as low-income and were currently involved in volunteer community work.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants' stories of being involved and making a difference illustrated women making connections, developing relationships, gaining knowledge and skills, increasing self-esteem and confidence, reaching out to help others, and strengthening communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At both the individual and community level, well-being was enhanced through women's community volunteerism in the context of economic poverty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the individual and community levels, well-being was enhanced through women's community volunteerism in the context of economic poverty. From a holistic nursing perspective, the findings provide support for community volunteerism as a health-promoting strategy among women living in economic poverty.
authors.affiliation: University of South Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Deanne K Hilfinger
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Messias
authors.forename: Margaret K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: De Jong
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McLoughlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019058:Community Networks; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D033262:Narration; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011203:Poverty; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers; D016387:Women's Health; D014931:Women, Working