Empowerment and Social Functioning of People with Mental Disabilities

Abstract

Introduction: Mental disability is characterised by impaired social functioning. Medical rehabilitation and medical treatment are not enough to recover from mental illness and improve quality of life. The theory of psychological empowerment defines it as a main approach in the support of people with mental disabilities, aimed towards the improvement of their social functioning and quality of life. The purpose of this article is to present the results of a study of the understanding of empowerment as an approach to social support of people with mental disabilities and the impact of the application of such an approach on the domains of their social functioning.

Methods: A narrative review of literature related to empowerment theory, the empowerment as an approach to the social support of people with mental disabilities, and the impact of such an approach on the domains of their social functioning. Literature sources were identified by searching the databases: EbscoHost Academic Search, Science Direct, Scopus, IST Web of Science by keywords: empowerment, social functioning people with mental disability.

Findings: Empowerment as a “multicomponent” and “multilevel” construct is presenting as a main element and a valuable tool in the process for providing support and recovery of people with mental disabilities. The outlined connections between empowerment and the functioning of the individual in many cases are two-sided.

Conclusion: Empowerment is defined as a central approach in the process of recovery and support of people with mental illness.