Central Appalachia experiences disproportionate rates of poverty. Historical exploitation has resulted in a lack of trust in others. Appalachia Service Project (ASP) utilizes interpersonal interactions as a way to market their free home repair services to a hesitant region. This study is an extension of a qualitative project about the link between housing repairs and health. The purpose is to highlight the impact that positive interaction with ASP has on willingness to receive assistance through service organizations in rural East Tennessee. Twenty-eight phone interviews were recorded through Zoom and thematic analysis was done using NVivo software. Twenty-four (86%) of those interviewed increased in their willingness to receive assistance based on their positive experience. Themes included being treated with dignity and respect, quality time, the intergenerational interface, reciprocity, and being spiritually uplifted. Further research is suggested regarding the affect religious communities, honor culture, rurality, and industrial ties have on willingness to receive assistance.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:asrf-1790 |
| Date | 07 April 2022 |
| Creators | Sloop, Ada, O'Connell, Bethesda, DrPH, Intagliata, Nicole |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Appalachian Student Research Forum & Jay S. Boland Undergraduate Research Symposium |
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