Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to Explore Experiences of New Poverty | Chapter 10 | Current Research in Education and Social Studies Vol. 1
‘New poverty’, an urban type of poverty
mainly affecting the middle class, has increased dramatically over the past
five years in Greece following the 2007-2008 economic crisis and the strict
austerity measures which were adopted. Focusing on subjective experience and
meaning making, this study aims to illuminate how ‘new poverty’ is experienced
and given meaning by two individuals living in the wider metropolitan area of
Athens. Participants’ accounts were elicited through in-depth, semi-structured
interviews and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).
Three overarching themes were identified: the impact of poverty on
participants’ lives, the perceived causes of ‘new poverty’ and coping
strategies. Participants focused on the all-pervasive nature of poverty and its
impact on their physical and psychological well-being. They mainly identified
the cause of poverty to be associated with socioeconomic factors, favouring
economic/structural explanations. Ways of coping with poverty included
receiving financial assistance from parents and engaging in social comparisons.
The findings are discussed in relation to extant literature.
Author(s) Details
Lempidaki
Maria
Department
of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, England.
Kalerante
Evaggelia
University
of Western Macedonia, Greece.
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