“My Values Keep Me Well… Would They Help Other People?”: A Thematic Analysis Exploring the Values and Values-Based Behaviours of People Facing Severe and Multiple Disadvantage

Abstract

Individuals facing Severe and Multiple Disadvantage (SMD) have experience of at least three of the following: homelessness, substance use, mental illness, offending, and domestic violence. There is a push towards providing better support for people facing SMD and yet little research on what the “best” support looks like. Values motivate behaviour across various contexts, and helping an individual identify their values can lead to greater enactment of positive behavioural change. This study aimed to identify and explore the values of people facing SMD, the barriers and facilitators to enacting these values, and the perceived helpfulness of service provision in encouraging values-based behaviour or change. Twelve participants took part in semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis resulted in four themes: values are idiosyncratic and interconnected; the benefits of value identification and enactment; the risks and challenges of value identification and enactment; and the relationship between values and support. Results offer preliminary evidence for the potential use of values in providing helpful, person-centered support for people facing SMD. Values work could arguably be integrated into any level of support for those facing SMD to support values-based living and change. Further research on the use and efficacy of values-focused interventions in SMD is needed.