Empowered Residents and Neighbourhood Activism: Cross-cultural Testing of a Japanese Scale in the USA

The present study tests power as a resident, a Japanese measure of empowerment, as a predictor of neighbourhood activism in a sample of Americans. Confirmatory factor analysis identified two factors that comprise the power as a resident scale: the perceived ability and desire to create change, and a shared responsibility for problems. Results from multiple regression analyses show that social cohesion and self-efficacy are predictors of both factors. Further, both factors of the power as a resident scale were significantly associated with neighbourhood activism. Findings suggest that building relationships in communities plays a critical role in empowering communities to participate in neighbourhood activism.