EMPOWERMENT AS A MULTILEVEL CONSTRUCT - PERCEIVED CONTROL AT THE INDIVIDUAL, ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY LEVELS

Interest in the development of a conceptual framework and operationali zation of empowerment that explores the relationships among different levels of analysis (individual, organizational and community) has been increasingly expressed in the literature. In this article we discuss a multi-level conceptualization of empowerment, examine empirical supp ort for linking the different levels of analysis, describe a measureme nt instrument developed to assess perceived control at the individual, organizational and community levels, and examine a conceptual model o f hypothesized correlates of perceived control, a partial measure of e mpowerment, at these three levels. Participation in organizations whic h attempt to influence public policy, taking an active or leadership r ole in a voluntary organization and belief that taking action is an ef fective means to influence community decisions are important correlate s of perceived control at the organizational and community levels. Lim itations of the study and implications for health education practice a nd research are discussed.