Process / pipelineSense of Belonging

Community Belonging Scale

The Community Belonging Scale measures the subjective psychological sense of community—the feeling that one belongs, is accepted, and is valued within one's community. Distinct from objective measures of networks or participation, it captures the affective experience of community integration. Developed by Seymour Sarason and refined by McMillan and Chavis, it is grounded in community psychology and emphasizes that belonging is fundamental to mental health and social well-being.

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Sources

  1. Sarason, S. B. (1974). The psychological sense of community: Prospects for a community psychology. Jossey-Bass. link
  2. McMillan, D. W., & Chavis, D. M. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 6-23. DOI: 10.1002/1520-6629(198601)14:1<6::AID-JCOP2290140103>3.0.CO;2-I
  3. Chipuer, H. M., & Pretty, G. M. (1999). A review of the empirical literature examining the association between social capital and mental health. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 6(6), 451-458. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2850.1999.00254.x

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Referenced by

ScholarGateCommunity Belonging Scale (Sense of Community and Belonging Assessment). Retrieved 2026-06-04 from https://scholargate.app/en/political-sociology/community-belonging-scale