"...sen kan man slinka in på en kaffe och direkt hamna i någons famn.”

: En explorativ kvalitativ studie om ett kafés betydelse och funktion som stödjande miljö för hälsa

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explore, through an exploratory, qualitative approach, a café in a small urban city and its importance and function as a supportive environment for health. The empirical data was collected through ten oral and two written interviews, with a subjective selection of people with different connections to the organization. The rich accounts were interpreted using qualitative content analysis. The results of the study revealed four categories: equality, safety, participation and belonging, each of which in different ways describes the function and importance of the place as a supportive environment for health. When the results as a whole were clarified, strong links were found to the sociological theory of Third Places. Based on this concept, a discussion was conducted in which the results were further related and put into perspective wth health-promoting related theoretical starting points, such as a sense of coherence and empowerment. The conclusion was that the results found good support in the existing research on Third places and its place in relation to a health-related perspective. From one aspect, this study can contribute new knowledge, in relation to the role of the café as a Third Place. The results showed that the café can provide strong psychosocial support, especially for people with low social capital. Previously, Third places have primarily been related to weaker social ties and a more general form of easy-going community. This finding is seen as particularly important in relation to health inequalities in its broadest sense, where people with different types of vulnerability may have poorer conditions for good health and a lack of social capital. Thus, further research is suggested to further explore Third places as a supportive environment for psychosocial health.

Date of Award	2024-Jun
Original language	Swedish
Supervisor	Åsa Bringsén (Supervisor) & H. Ingemar Andersson (Examiner)