The four stages of neighborhood trust: Classic grounded theory

Shawna Beese; Janessa M Graves; Julie Postma; Gail Oneal

doi:10.1111/phn.13326

The four stages of neighborhood trust: Classic grounded theory

Public Health Nurs. 2024 Apr 19. doi: 10.1111/phn.13326. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Shawna Beese^{1

2}, Janessa M Graves^{1

3}, Julie Postma¹, Gail Oneal¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, Extension, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
² College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA.
³ School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

PMID: 38639194
DOI: 10.1111/phn.13326

Abstract

Introduction: Neighborhoods are often overlooked as a determinant of health. Among recent research, the focus on "place-based effects," due to prolonged residential environmental exposure, has been of particular interest. These studies' purpose is to identify and examine how a healthy neighborhood is intentionally created to describe a transferable process-driven theory.

Method: A classic grounded theory approach was used in these studies. Data sources include individual in-depth interviews, historical documents, and a member-checking focus group, collected over 3-years.

Results: Analysis generated the Four Stages of Neighborhood Trust Model, which is nested within the context of perceived neighborhood safety. The theory outlines a social process of four stages of neighborhood trust: (a) rules-based agreements, (b) shared values, (c) cooperation, and (d) neighborhood belonging.

Conclusions: We present the development of a process-driven theory that may be useful for public health nurses as they engage neighborhoods in health promotion activities. The stage of trust development will aid the nurse in identifying what is needed to move to the next stage in a healthy neighborhood process.

Keywords: grounded theory; health promotion; neighborhood characteristics; public health nursing.