title: What motivates people to participate more in community-based coalitions?
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify potential opportunities for improving member participation in community-based coalitions. We hypothesized that opportunities for influence and process competence would each foster higher levels of individual member participation. We tested these hypotheses in a sample of 818 members within 79 youth-oriented coalitions. Opportunities for influence were measured as members' perceptions of an inclusive board leadership style and members' reported committee roles. Coalition process competence was measured through member perceptions of strategic board directedness and meeting effectiveness. Members reported three types of participation within meetings as well as how much time they devoted to coalition business beyond meetings. Generalized linear models accommodated clustering of individuals within coalitions. Opportunities for influence were associated with individuals' participation both within and beyond meetings. Coalition process competence was not associated with participation. These results suggest that leadership inclusivity rather than process competence may best facilitate member participation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Campus Box 7411, 1104F McGavran-Greenberg Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7411, USA. rswells@email.unc.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Ann J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feinberg
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009042:Motivation; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012044:Regression Analysis