Identifying factors that predict the experience of social inclusion: A four-country study

Background/Objectives: Social inclusion is a key outcome measure of mental health programs and interventions. There is an emerging need for a global measure of social inclusion that can be adopted in diverse cultural settings (Baumgartner and Burns 2014). The Social and Community Opportunities Profile (SCOPE) developed in the UK (Huxley et al. 2012) has been established as a valid and reliable measure with acceptable psychometric properties.

Methods: The instrument SCOPE was adapted into three versions (Brazilian, Chinese, and Polish) using questions from the census study and a standardized translation and back-translation process. It was then administrated to a sample of 936 individuals, including immigrants, mental services users, and non-users from Brazil, Hong Kong, Poland and the U.K. The research objectives are (1) to identify factors that can predict social inclusion among mental services users or non-users, as well as (2) to examine if Maslow’s theory of hierarchal needs is able to provide a progressive explanation of social inclusion experience.

Results: Social inclusion did not differ by demographic variables. Respondents who did not have a mental illness, who did not have a disability, who had economic means, and frequently having friends to visit their homes experienced a higher level of social inclusion than the other respondents. The study identified a set of key variables that were associated with overall social inclusion. Our interpretation of Maslow’s theory of hierarchal needs was able to explain social inclusion among the mental health services users as well as to non-users.

Discussion: The SCOPE was proven to be a valid measurement of social inclusion in a cross-cultural setting. The four-country sample demonstrated that basic needs such as employment and accommodation were crucial in the influence of the experience of social inclusion. The results provide guidance for the design of social policies and intervention to encourage social inclusion. SCOPE can also be used to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of social services delivery.