Social Equalities and Wellbeing in Community Health
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: public health; māori psychology; māori psychology knowledge systems; community psychology; health and community services; programme evaluation
Interests: food insecurity; community psychology; lived experience of health inequities; disability; qualitative research
Interests: indigenous psychologies; working with muslim migrant communities, sri lankan migrants and/or migrants of colour, and indigenous psychologies as relating to asia-pacific contexts; social and community psychology; community research; qualitative research
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Communities worldwide are navigating complex challenges shaped by climate change, migration, inequitable access to resources, and declining opportunities for healthcare and justice. These intersecting issues create profound implications for community wellbeing, highlighting the urgency of approaches that address systemic inequalities while fostering resilience and hope. This Special Issue on Social Equalities and Wellbeing in Community Health invites contributions that explore innovative, inclusive, and justice-oriented responses through the lens of community psychology.
This Special Issue aims to showcase scholarship and practice that critically engage with community health at the intersections of social inequalities and systemic transformation. We welcome articles that illuminate collaborative and multidisciplinary approaches, draw on Indigenous knowledges, and amplify local voices and lived experiences. Submissions may include theoretical, empirical, and practice-based contributions that demonstrate how community psychology can generate counterspaces of empowerment, reshape health policy and practice, and expand opportunities for communities to thrive.
By gathering diverse perspectives and exemplars, this Special Issue seeks to advance a collective vision of community health that is equitable, participatory, and deeply connected to the pursuit of social justice.
Further information on community psychology
Community psychology is an applied social science that focuses on how social and physical environments affect individuals and communities, and conversely, how individuals and groups affect their environments. It promotes social justice by examining community-level problems, such as oppression, stigma, and marginalization, and developing interventions through collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches that empower communities to enhance their wellbeing and address systemic issues.
Key Principles and Focus Areas
- Ecological Perspective: Community psychologists view individuals within the context of their social settings and physical environments, recognizing the reciprocal relationship between people and their surroundings.
- Social Justice: A core aim is to promote social justice and improve the wellbeing of oppressed, stigmatized, or marginalized groups within communities.
- Systemic Change: Instead of focusing solely on individual change, community psychology emphasizes "second-order change" by altering the systems and structures that contribute to problems.
- Community Collaboration: It values the active participation and collaboration of community members in the research and intervention processes, recognizing their experiential knowledge and expertise.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: The field draws on sociology, education, policy sciences, and other disciplines, moving beyond traditional psychological boundaries.
How Community Psychology Works
- Problem Identification: Community psychologists research and analyze problem situations within communities, such as environmental pollution, housing issues, or domestic violence.
- Intervention Design: They develop and implement strategies aimed at fostering community wellness and empowering people to improve their circumstances.
- Empowerment: A key goal is to empower individuals and communities by building their capacity to act, advocate, and create positive change.
- Diverse Methodologies: Research often employs a range of methodologies, including both empirical and experiential approaches, to address complex issues within specific cultural contexts.
Examples of Community Psychology in Practice:
- Developing policies to combat pollution and its effects on community health.
- Creating and supporting “counterspaces” to provide support for individuals experiencing oppression.
- Collaborating with non-profit organizations and government agencies to address issues like unemployment and access to education.
- Working with communities to develop more just legal policies and improve access to safe housing and decent jobs.
Prof. Dr. Bridgette Masters-Awatere
Dr. Rebekah Graham
Dr. Shemana Cassim
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- equity
- community psychology
- Māori
- Indigenous
- justice
- health
- wellbeing
- disability
- culture
- migration
- climate change
- identity
- policy
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