Table I.

Summary included studies

Author and yearResearch designResearch questionSettingSample characteristics/sizeFindingsCountryFramework
Yiannakis et al. (2006) Quantitative research: multivariate time series analysisThis study examines whether soccer results could be predicted. A theory of team empowerment is used to explain the utility in predicting the outcomesSoccer20 soccer teams of 38 league games from August to MayTeam empowerment may lead to individual empowermentEnglandOE
Dean and Bush (2007) Qualitative explorative researchThe study examines the psychosocial processes used by environmental organizations in their workCommunity psychology10 government organizations with 22 respondents in total: 12 male, 10 female, age 28-62 yearsCommunity leadership and community pressure play a key role in influencing public policyAustraliaEnvironmental literature
Griffith et al. (2007) Mixed method: surveys, focus groups, desk research and organizational self-assessmentThe study examines how racism manifests itself within organizationsPublic health1 case: The Southern County Public Health DepartmentOrganizations are influenced by external forces such as institutional racism. There is a need of organizational studies and approaches to achieve social changeUSAOE
Perkins et al. (2007) Qualitative research: case studyThis study focuses on the role of member participation in decision-makingNon-profit organizations4 of 16 organizations are local affiliates of a national youth development organization, grass-rooted and a neighborhood associationLearning organizational strategies increase viability, influence community learning and transformationUSAOE
Baxamusa (2008)Qualitative research: case studyThe study focuses on examining the role of participatory processes to empower communitiesCommunity practice2 cases: Los Angeles International Airport and Ballpark VillaInformation contributes to the power of an alliance. Alliances function as mediating structures because they bring issues to the table and may transform them in to social movementsUSAEmpowerment
Griffith et al. (2008) Qualitative research: case studyThe study evaluates a coalition’s efforts and benefits for individual organizations, partnerships and communitiesYouth care1 case: Youth Violence Prevention Centre in MichiganFlexibility is important in alliances. Organizations benefit from an allianceUSAOE
Hughey et al. (2008) Quantitative research: surveyThis study tests the structure of sense of community organizations and evaluates it as a potential organizational characteristic for OECommunity organizationsTotal of 661 residents, 561 respondents (59%). 57% female, 56 white, 225 Hispanic, 13% African-American, 9% Asian. 14% age 18-24, 49% 25-44, 23% 45-64, 14% 65+Sense of community might increase OEUSAOE
Maton (2008) Meta-reviewThe study focuses on how organizational processes influence their wider context they are part ofAdult well-being, youth and locality development, social changeSeveral youth organizations, community settings, social movement organizations and mutual help groups are includedOpportunity role structure, leadership, group based belief system and organizational learning contribute to OEUSAOE
Ohmer (2008a) Quantitative research: surveyThis study examines the relationship between the perceptions of members concerning their neighborhood organization and the effects from participationCommunity psychology231 neighborhood organization members. 54% responded (poverty area). 59% Caucasian, 39% African American. 62% female, 97% voters. Average age 58. 81% homeowners, 49% married, 32% has a professional degree, 18% graduated from college, 25% from a college and 19% has a high school degree or less (6%)Findings show that whenever a volunteer perceives the organizational characteristics as positive the more control they have on the (local) political levelUSAOE
Ohmer (2008b) Quantitative research: surveyThis study focuses on examining the relationship between organizational characteristics and the perceived benefits by participants in the organizationCommunity psychology231 neighborhood organization members. 54% responded (poverty area). 59% Caucasian, 39% African American. 62% female, 97% voters. Average age 58. 81% homeowners, 49% married, 32% has a professional degree, 18% graduated from college, 25% from a college and 19% has a high school degree or less (6%)Participative organizational characteristics such as decision-making processes, structure and climate are only related to self-efficacy variables such as influence on neighborhood policyUSAOE
Griffith et al. (2010) Mixed method: survey and descriptive case studyThis paper describes how community partners of care organizations are able to participate in research to decrease health disparitiesHealth and youth careTwo example cases. One focuses on intra-organizational empowerment. The other focuses on intra- as well as extra-organizational empowermentThe intra- and inter-organizational component function as a foundation for the extra-organizational componentUSAOE
Javdani and Allen (2011) Quantitative research: surveyThe study examines what factors are positively related to psychological empowermentSocial work654 respondents from 21 family violence coordinating councils in a Midwestern state were included. 71% female, age 40-59 and white/Caucasian (94%)Employee participation, effective council leadership and a supportive climate lead to empowermentUSAOE
Wilke and Speer (2011) Quantitative research: surveyThe study examines how OE characteristics relate to individual empowermentCommunity organizations974 respondents or urban residentsDifferent types of organizations influence empowerment in different waysUSAOE
Alcantara (2012) Qualitative research: interviewsThis study examines how the collaboration between universities and community organizations leads to social changeCommunity organizations/education20 staff membersMembers should have the opportunity to develop their leadership potential. Disseminating information is enhanced through advanced systemsUSAOE
Fernando (2012) Quantitative research: surveyThis study focuses to explore the relationship between several intra and extra-organizational empowering processesCommunity organizations78 staff members of a coalitionExtra-organizational processes increase citizen participationUSAOE
Goudarzvandchegini and Kheradmand (2013) Quantitative research: surveyThis study examines the relationship between OE and organizational commitmentEducation973 respondentsEmpowerment among members leads to increased organizational commitmentIranOE
Peterson et al. (2013) Quantitative research: surveyThis study evaluates measures and tests the characteristics of mediating variables as predictors of empowermentEducation423 respondents, 83% female, 9.1% Hispanic, 67.1% Caucasian, 20.4% African American, 4.4% Asian. 45.2% age 25-34, 12.8% 35-44, 2% 55+Several processes have shown a direct or indirect effect on professionals’ empowermentUSAOE
Powell (2013) Mixed method: survey and interviewsThis study tests OE characteristics in relation to individual empowermentCommunity organizations11 community organizations, 138 survey participants and 20 interviewees. Respondents are primarily female, white, non-Hispanic or LatinoSeveral findings on SOC, opportunity role structure, social support and group based belief systemUSAOE
Prati and Zani (2013) Quantitative research: surveyThe study focuses on the relationship between psychological empowerment and organizational identificationHealth organizations5195 respondents: mean age 46.94, 69% female, 69% nurses, physicians, dietitians, therapists and other health care professionals, 12% technical staff, 19% administrative and 25% managersMember empowerment increases the identification and loyalty toward the organizationItalyOE
Segal et al. (2013) Quantitative research: RCTThis study examines the effectiveness of self-help agencies, community mental health agencies and the role of OESelf-help agencies505 respondents: 46% female, 34% African American, 36% White, 30% otherOpportunity role structure increases self-efficacy and a positive attitude towards clientsUSOE
Speer et al. (2013) Quantitative research: surveyThis study focuses on the influence of participation, gender and SOC on PECommunity organization562 respondents, 67% female, 57% white, 4% Hispanic, 31% African American, 4% other. 4% age 18-24, 20% 25-44, 47% 45-64, 26% 65+SOC increases the psychological empowerment of employeesUSAOE
Christens and Lin (2014) Quantitative research: surveyThe study focuses on community and organizational participation, sense of community and social support as predictors of psychological empowermentCommunity psychology1322 respondents: 63% female, 37% male. Age 6% 18-24, 9% 25-34, 10% 35-44, 21% 45-54, 33% 55-64, 17% 65-74, 4% 75+. 94% White, 1.3% Black or African American, 1,2% Hispanic or Latino, 0,9% Asian, 0,8% Native American, 1,7% mixed raceRelational patterns play a role in enabling cross-system empowermentUSAOE
Christens et al. (2014) Qualitative research: case study- action researchThe study examines how networks of relationships between individuals bridge ecological systemsAmerican Psychological AssociationCase study WISDOM. This is an organization that supports and connects local congregation-based community organizing in WisconsinSubgroup linkages play a key role in increasing cross-system empowerment and social powerUSAOE
Daraei et al. (2014) Quantitative research: surveyThis study analyses the impact of employee empowerment on Organizational Citizenship BehaviorInsurance setting152 respondents: 47.4% female, 52.6% male. Degrees: Diploma 10.5%, Higher diploma 11.2%, Bachelor 61.2%, Master 15.8%, PhD 1.3%There is a positive and significant relationship between empowerment and organizational citizenship behaviorIranOE
Evans et al. (2014) Mixed- method research: case study (action research: observing and interviews) and surveyThe study examines the formation of a poverty reduction coalitionCommunity organizations1 community organization as leading organization of the coalition was studied. Observations were executed, interviews were held with staff and a survey was conducted to 106 pairs of network organizationsEvidence is found for inter-organizational empowermentUSAOE
Forenza (2014) Qualitative researchThe study examines pro-social processes in community theatres capable of facilitating the involvement of voluntary membersCommunity theatre14 in-depth interviews with theatre members. 8 woman, 4 men, average age 55.6, average years of involvement 33.1, average years of belonging to a theatre community organization 7.6The study found themes that are indicative for shared beliefs, opportunity role structure, social support and leadershipUSAOE
Neal (2014a) Quantitative research: hypothesisThis study focuses on understanding empowerment in settings and as relational from a social network perspectiveCommunity psychologyData are collected in the 7th and 8th grade of a public elementary school. 7th grade included 26 students of which 69.2% female, 8th grade included 30 students of which 40% female. 7th grade 38.4% Latino, 34.6% African American, 23.1% White, 3.8% biracial. 8th grade 20% Latino, 30% African American, 43.3% White, 3.3% Asian, 3.3% biracialIn an alliance, several organizations with a diverse set of empowered processes should be brought togetherUSAOE
Neal (2014b) Qualitative descriptive research: case studyThis paper studies when settings are empoweringEducationSee Neal (2014a) A setting can be transformed to empowering by restructuring the relationshipsUSAEmpowerment
Powell and Peterson (2014) Quantitative research: surveyThe study tested the characteristics of coalitions that predict empowerment and effectivenessCommunity coalitions138 respondents: 57.4% female, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 90.2% Caucasian, 6.5% Black or African American, 2.4% Asian, 0.8% American Indian or Alaska Native. 35.7% have a bachelor’s degree, 34.9% their masters, 11.7% college degree. Mean age is 46Several processes have shown an indirect effect on OE processes and outcomesUSAOE
Janssen et al. (2015) Qualitative research: case studyThe study focuses on the organizational features professionals identify as empowering in cooperation processesGeriatric care1 multidisciplinary team in a geriatric contextTrust is important in leadership, collaboration between teams increases alliance building, managers tend to prioritize internal affairs above the allianceNetherlandsOE
Tesdahl and Speer (2015) Quantitative research: longitudinal designThis study examines how sustained participation in movement activities is affected by organizational activity and equality of staffCommunity organization10,000 respondents in five metropolitan areas in 50 organizations including 47 religious congregations, 2 neighborhood-based alliances and 1 neighborhood associationOpportunity role structure and increasing equality of professional staff may lead to more individual participationUSAOE
Carrasco et al. (2016) Qualitative research with a critical realistic approachThe study examines what the role is of CBAC practices in OECommunity-based arts and cultural (CBAC) practices20 interviews divided in two categories: a) experts/academics non practitioners, b) privileged testimoniesFindings on social support and group empowermentSpainEmpowerment
Forenza (2016) Qualitative descriptive researchThe study examines which organizational characteristics facilitate empowering processesYouth Advisory Board leadersInterviews with 14 Youth Advisory Board leaders. Female n = 10, male n = 4, age 18-23, 71.4% Black/ African-American, 14.3% Interracial, 7.1 Hispanic/Latino, Unknown 7.1%)Findings on opportunity role structure, leadership and social supportUSAOE
Valsania et al. (2016)Quantitative research: surveyThe study explores the relationship of authentic leadership, and OEDifferent types of organizations212 respondents in Spanish companiesAuthentic leadership increases empowermentSpainOE
Forenza (2017) Qualitative retrospective, cross-sectional, researchThe study focuses on the role of civic participation among youth aging out of state systems in relation to empowermentYouth care10 primary consumers: 60% male, 40% female, white/Caucasian 90%, Hispanic/Latino 10%, Location New Jersey 50%, Massachusetts 20%, California 10%, Florida 10%, New York 10%Leadership increases organizational commitment, social support and having a group based belief system contribute to OEUSAOE
Forenza and Mendonca (2017) Qualitative researchThe study explores processes of advocacyYouth developmentIn-depth interviews with 5 undocumented, college-age, Latino DREAM act advocates (4 male, 1 female, age 20-26)Opportunity role structure and leadership contribute to achieve organizational goals. Social support contributes to social capital. Shared beliefs aim at helping a larger communityPeru and MexicoOE
Ramgard et al. (2017) Qualitative Action researchThe study examines social impact across organizational and geographical scalesElderly care7 cases over 8 years in 20 communitiesCollaboration between teams in various organizations leads to capacity buildingSwedenParticipatory Action Research

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