title: Political engagement as an element of social recovery: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Taking a qualitative approach, this study sought to describe consumer attitudes toward political participation and the association between political engagement and social recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used data from seven focus groups of self-identified consumers of mental health services in the New York City area (N=52). Attitudes and behaviors related to voting and other forms of political engagement were identified and classified according to grounded theory, with a focus on the relationship between political engagement and broader social functioning, participation, and recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants described the symbolic meaning of voting and political participation in terms of connection to social inclusion versus exclusion. Participants described political participation as a component of empowerment for minority groups in general, including persons who use mental health services and those from racial-ethnic minority groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Qualitative studies of the symbolic meanings of political participation are an important component of understanding the broad yet interconnected dimensions of social recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Boston University, 232 Bay State Rd., Boston, MA 02215, USA. smbergst@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bergstresser
authors.forename: Isaac S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colesante
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011057:Politics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D058992:Social Participation; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: Evid Rep Technol Assess (Summ). 2004 Aug;(99):1-8
references.pmid: 15460504
references.citation: Psychiatr Serv. 2007 Apr;58(4):469-74
references.pmid: 17412847
references.citation: Clin Psychol (New York). 2006;13(1):9-25
references.pmid: 16724158
references.citation: Psychiatr Serv. 2006 Nov;57(11):1636-9
references.pmid: 17085613
references.citation: Health Promot Pract. 2006 Jul;7(3):312-23
references.pmid: 16760238
references.citation: Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2007 Summer;31(1):54-61
references.pmid: 17694716
references.citation: Psychiatr Serv. 2007 Sep;58(9):1219-21
references.pmid: 17766569
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2007 Sep;65(5):868-79
references.pmid: 17499900
references.citation: Psychiatr Serv. 2012;63(5):445-50
references.pmid: 22549531
references.citation: Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2007 Summer;31(1):62-9
references.pmid: 17694717