Community Belonging and Mental Health Outcomes: Considering Diverse Identity Groups

Community belonging is fundamental to the well-being of individuals and linked to an array of health outcomes. Places, spaces, and individual characteristics can promote or hinder a sense of belonging. Understanding the nuances of community belonging requires collaborating with diverse community partners in all stages of the research process. The Community Belonging Measurement (CBM) project is a university-community collaboration that aims to measure and improve belonging by leveraging the unique strengths, insights, and experiences of diverse communities and community partners.

The full sample (N = 1,019) included adult residents aged 18-65+ (76.7% white; 68.5% women) in a rural/suburban region of a western state. Community partners were engaged in survey co-creation and co-interpretation of findings. Based on prior research and community partners’ insights, 7 subsamples were created from the full sample. Presented here are findings from three subsamples: BIPOC (n = 195), LGBTQA+ (n = 106) and Parents/caregivers (n =241). Community belonging was assessed with Community Attachment and Connectedness (CAC). Mental health was measured by a self-reported single item. All measures were rated on a 5-pt scale with higher scores reflecting higher amounts. Qualitative data included survey responses and focus groups. T-tests, linear regressions, and qualitative methods investigated associations between community belonging and mental health.

Overall results show moderate levels of belonging (CAC M = 3.57, SD = 0.76) and mental health (M = 3.53, SD = 1.05). Compared to their counterparts, BIPOC and LGBTQA+ individuals had significantly lower mean scores of belonging (BIPOC CAC t_(292.33) = -2.32, p < .01; LGBTQA+ CAC t_(127.4) = -3.66, p < .001) and mental health (BIPOC t_(283.95) = -4.62, p < .001; LGBTQA+ t_(129.49) = -8.56, p < .001). Parents/caregivers had no significant differences in belonging compared to non-parents/caregivers (t_(436.63) = -1.10, p = .27), but they did report significantly lower mean scores of mental health (t_(472.783) = -4.01, p < .001). Multiple regressions revealed higher CAC was significantly associated with better mental health for all three subgroups. Qualitative findings showed community-specific strengths and challenges such as motivation to give back to community, feeling unsafe or discriminated against, the importance of cultural identity, and the value of shared lived experiences.

The findings highlight the impact of belonging on mental health across community groups. Community engagement throughout the research process provided valuable insights into the drivers and barriers of belonging among different communities. Community-specific strengths and challenges prompt the need to recognize and address the social determinants of health, particularly the role of community belonging in shaping individuals’ well-being. Implications of this work include targeted interventions and culturally-responsive community services and programs to promote belonging. Social workers can play a vital role by collaborating with diverse community partners, uplifting community-specific strengths, and advocating for policy changes to promote equity and inclusivity.