SENSE OF BELONGING AND INDICATORS OF SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING

Sense of belonging has recently been described and defined as one spec ific interpersonal process that influences health. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between sense of belonging and personal characteristics and selected indicators of social and psycho logical functioning in men and women. Using a sample of 379 community college students, sense of belonging was examined in relation to socia l support, conflict, involvement in community activities, attendance a t religious services, loneliness, depression, anxiety, history of psyc hiatric treatment, and suicidality. Results indicated that sense of be longing is closely related to indicators of both social and psychologi cal functioning. These relationships were generally stronger for women than for men. It appears that sense of belonging is a useful concept pertinent to exploration of social and psychological functioning. Copy right (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company