2014 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 40-48
Purpose: This paper presents the concept analyses of ‘attachment to the local community’ including: individuals’ inner awareness; relationships between individuals and relationships with their local community. The rationale for adopting the concept for public health nursing practice is identified and useful public nursing activities are suggested.
Methodology: We interviewed nine participants selected for their social activities in their local community. Concept analysis yielded: concept characteristics, factors affecting the formation of the concept and the outcome expected from the formation of the concept, which were classified into categories. Focusing on relationships between the categories, we examined the overall structure of the concept at three levels: personal, inter-personal and community (ranging from the neighborhood to municipality).
Results and discussion: The findings indicated that the categories interact at each level to bring about inner and external changes among individuals. The concept reflected a process structure. Progress in the formation of ‘attachment to the local community’ stimulates community-oriented behavior, thereby generating better and greater outcomes than expected at the formation stage. Thus, ‘attachment to the local community’ may be defined as a supportive mind-set and forward-looking intention towards their local community that is formed by sharing experiences with others in their day-to-day living situation and which changes as they interact with social circumstances.
Conclusion: Our study implies that the concept is useful for the practice of public health nursing aimed at both improving individuals’ QOL and building local capacity.
