TY - JOUR
T1 - Vulnerable persons in society
T2 - An insider's perspective
AU - Numans, Wilma
AU - Regenmortel, Tine Van
AU - Schalk, Rene
AU - Boog, Juliette
N1 - Funding
The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Purpose: Self-reliance and social participation are strongly promoted by social policy. Both concepts are linked to the concept of vulnerability, for people who do not meet these standards are labelled "vulnerable people". In this paper, the insider's perspective takes central stage by seeking to explore what it means to be labelled a "vulnerable person", and through this to further our insight into the meaning of the concept of vulnerability.Method: Thirty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 allegedly vulnerable people. The data were subjected to thematic content analysis.Results: Our analysis revealed three main dimensions and eight sub-dimensions of perceived vulnerability, outlining an insider's concept of vulnerability. This concept includes manifestations of vulnerability, feelings coexisting with vulnerability, and the image of vulnerable people.Conclusion: The perception of vulnerability changes when interacting with others in society, especially with social policy implementers. In this interaction, the perceived vulnerability increases and becomes societal vulnerability. It concerns a dependency situation in which one's strength and self-determination are not recognized, and the help needed is not provided. By acknowledging the insider's perspective, social policy can fulfil a more empowering role towards "vulnerable people" and contribute to people's well-being.
AB - Purpose: Self-reliance and social participation are strongly promoted by social policy. Both concepts are linked to the concept of vulnerability, for people who do not meet these standards are labelled "vulnerable people". In this paper, the insider's perspective takes central stage by seeking to explore what it means to be labelled a "vulnerable person", and through this to further our insight into the meaning of the concept of vulnerability.Method: Thirty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 allegedly vulnerable people. The data were subjected to thematic content analysis.Results: Our analysis revealed three main dimensions and eight sub-dimensions of perceived vulnerability, outlining an insider's concept of vulnerability. This concept includes manifestations of vulnerability, feelings coexisting with vulnerability, and the image of vulnerable people.Conclusion: The perception of vulnerability changes when interacting with others in society, especially with social policy implementers. In this interaction, the perceived vulnerability increases and becomes societal vulnerability. It concerns a dependency situation in which one's strength and self-determination are not recognized, and the help needed is not provided. By acknowledging the insider's perspective, social policy can fulfil a more empowering role towards "vulnerable people" and contribute to people's well-being.
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Humans
KW - Interpersonal Relations
KW - Interviews as Topic
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Netherlands
KW - Public Policy
KW - Qualitative Research
KW - Self Concept
KW - Vulnerable Populations/psychology
UR - https://app-eu.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=10118&lang=en_us&readclass=rs_readArea&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tandfonline.com%2Fdoi%2Ffull%2F10.1080%2F17482631.2020.1863598&dict=math&rule=math&xslrule=math
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85098668399&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17482631.2020.1863598
DO - 10.1080/17482631.2020.1863598
M3 - Article
C2 - 33357080
VL - 16
JO - International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
JF - International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
SN - 1748-2631
IS - 1
M1 - 1863598
ER -