Psychological Sense Of Community Research Articles

Practices and settings which promote a psychological sense of community among young people who experience social marginalization: A scoping review

AIMSExperiencing a psychological sense of community (PSOC) may buffer against adverse outcomes associated with oppression and exclusion for young people who endure social marginalization. Limited prior research has captured what, specifically, promotes PSOC among young people. METHODS: This scoping review systematically surveys literature (N = 13 articles) to understand what practices and settings foster PSOC among young people who experience social marginalization. RESULTS: Six broad practices are found to foster PSOC: adult/mentor support, peer/social support, youth power and influence, community participation/involvement, connecting by shared identity, and specific program features. Community settings are the predominant settings in which PSOC appears to be fostered. CONCLUSION: Practitioners who work with young people in community settings may consider foregrounding these practices within their work when seeking to foster a psychological sense of community. Future research should partner with young people to understand what they desire when seeking out supportive settings and communities.

How older adults recovering from substance use problems experience mattering

AimMattering (to feel valued and add value to self and others) is a fundamental human experience and mechanism in recovery. In this paper, we concern ourselves with the recovery of older adults with substance problems. This population is on the rise in many Western countries. To offer mattering enhancing programs for this group, more knowledge about later life mattering in service-assisted recovery processes is needed. This study aims to explore experiences of mattering in older adults receiving services to recover from substance use problems. MethodsA collaborative and deductive reflexive thematic approach was applied in analysing 23 interviews with participants using substance use services. Participants were recovering from different substance use problems: alcohol, medication and illegal substances. The participants were recruited from three different Norwegian social contexts: two urban and one medium size municipality. The age of the sample ranged from 65–80 years, with approximately equal numbers for those aged 60–69 (12 participants) and 70–80 (11 participants). Seven participants were women and 16 men.ResultsThree main themes were identified in the analysis: “relational experiences of mattering and not mattering”, “service-related experiences of mattering and not mattering” and “recovery and psychological sense of community as interrelated phenomena to experiences of mattering”. The findings illustrate various nuanced experiences of mattering and not mattering in later life recovery processes.ConclusionsOverall, the participants’ mattering experiences rested on fair, healthy and positive community relationships and fair and attentive services, where participants could feel valued and also have a chance to add value to others. Experiences of not mattering were precipitated by lack of support, disrespect, devaluation and loss of relationships, and also by being ignored and not receiving fair treatment and help by professionals. Importantly, reciprocal and enhancing relations between mattering, recovery and relational PSOC seem to exist and to be significant for the older adults’ access to substance use services. Several practical implications are suggested to promote the therapeutic and preventive potentials of later life mattering in recovery.

Sense of community among young adults before and after moving into Permanent Supportive Housing: A mixed-methods longitudinal analysis

Amidst chronic stressors and ongoing instability, many young people who have experienced homelessness and housing instability find communities and settings which offer support and care. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) is one setting which aims to provide stability and community to those who have experienced homelessness, but it has not been widely studied with young adults (ages 18–25 upon moving into PSH). This paper employs a longitudinal convergent mixed methods approach – with quantitative and qualitative survey data over 1.5 years – to explore how young adult residents (N = 27 at T1; N = 20 at T2, N = 13 at T3) experience sense of community before and after moving into PSH. Using McMillan and Chavis’ (1986) four-part Psychological Sense of Community (PSOC) framework to frame data collection and analysis, we find that residents’ sense of community is shaped by an ongoing negotiation of personal and collective needs. Building community takes time and requires opportunities for voices to be heard (and shape change), along with ongoing personal growth – especially related to substance use recovery. Our findings offer insights for future PSH settings for young people – as well as other residential and community settings which aim to support young people. We suggest the need for future research which explores the tension of policy decision making, about substance use for example, in low-barrier support services like PSH.

The Impact of Students' Satisfaction on Psychological Sense of Community among Undergraduate Students

A psychological sense of community is vital to increase engagement in studies and social activities while pursuing higher education. The primary aim of the present study was to examine the impact of students' satisfaction in terms of experiences with faculties, campus facilities, and extracurricular activities on undergraduate students' psychological sense of community. A purposive sampling method administered a self-report survey to 468 undergraduate students (18 to 25 years). Students' satisfaction scale (24 items) and the Collegiate Psychological Sense of Community Scale (14 items) were used as the instrument. The data were analysed via Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) version 28. Multiple regression analysis to identify the impact of students' satisfaction with the psychological sense of community. Findings showed a significant impact of students' satisfaction in terms of campus facilities (β = .92, p =.027) and extracurricular activities (β = .46, p = .031) on the psychological sense of community among undergraduate students. However, the result suggested that experience with faculty did not significantly predict undergraduate students' psychological sense of community (β = .016, p = .693). Results of this study were discussed concerning potential mechanisms through increasing students' satisfaction with an enhanced psychological sense of community. The implications of the study and recommendations for future research are presented. In sum, it recommended that more focused attention should be given to increase the psychological sense of community among undergraduate students.

Mentoring programmes – building capacity for learning and retaining workers in the workplace

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to contribute to an understanding of the relational work carried out in mentoring programmes and the implications for learning capabilities in future practices.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on field research of a mentoring programme bringing together senior and newly graduated workers in a large Swedish health care organisation. In total, 54 qualitative interviews with mentors, mentees, HR, managers and union representatives are included.FindingsThe findings point to the role of trust and a psychological sense of community in the socialisation work that goes on in relationships between the mentor and the mentee. This in turn leads to increased social capital in the form of learning and retaining workers. The conditions for being vulnerable and asking questions, as well as daring to be independent, are an essential and decisive part of constructing bonding within the professional group and bridging out to other professions and parts of the organisation.Practical implicationsThe practical contribution from this study is the workplace conditions that are central to organising mentoring programmes, with implications for learning capabilities in future practices.Originality/valueWith its theoretical focus on social capital, the study shows the importance of relationships for learning and retaining both newly graduated and experienced employees in a context of high employee turnover. It is central to achieving strong and mutually beneficial relationships through continual and trustful interaction between actors. By using the concepts of social capital, socialisation agents and psychological sense of community, this study contributes to an understanding of mentoring and workplace learning.

Community participation among immigrants: A generative journey towards personal growth

Immigrants usually live under oppressive settings and experience social suffering because of the unjust socio-cultural conditions of host societies. Community participation can be particularly beneficial for them as it leads to positive outcomes and the ability to resist oppression. In this article we argue that volunteerism—a specific form of community participation rooted in generativity—not only helps immigrants in handling oppression and social suffering but also leads to positive psychological changes. Combining the liberation psychology and generativity approaches, a qualitative study was implemented based on in‐depth interviews (N = 27) with immigrant volunteers of migrant community-based organizations settled in Milan, Italy. The results highlight how the process of immigrant volunteerism operates. Some immigrants cope with nostalgia for their countries of origin while others cope with social suffering in Italian society. In both cases, their coping is “generative” when connected to volunteerism, that allows immigrants to enact their social responsibility and care for future generations both in their country of origin and in host societies. The sense of mattering (i.e., feeling useful) and psychological sense of community (i.e., the sense of belonging to a group where solidarity is expressed) experienced within this type of organizations are related to paths of personal growth. Practical implications are presented.

A performing artist's perception of the structural relationship between COVID-19 restrictions, psychological sense of community, and intention to continue in performing arts

A performing artist's perception of the structural relationship between COVID-19 restrictions, psychological sense of community, and intention to continue in performing arts

Commuter Students and Psychological Sense of Community: How Ties to Home Relate to Academic Success

Abstract Universities spend significant time and energy establishing a sense of community for their students. University personnel strive to increase school community ties for commuter students who travel back and forth from home to campus under the assumption that these increased ties will predict academic success. In an effort to understand those variables related to commuter student success, 335 participants responded to questions regarding commuter status, psychological sense of community with one’s school, psychological sense of community with one’s hometown, and academic self-handicapping. Results indicated that those with a strong sense of community with their hometown were less likely to engage in academic self-handicapping. Moreover, this relationship was moderated by commuting status, such that the effect was stronger for commuter students than for non-commuter students. Implications for commuter student success and future research are discussed.

A Multimodal Emotion Perspective on Social Media Influencer Marketing: The Effectiveness of Influencer Emotions, Network Size, and Branding on Consumer Brand Engagement Using Facial Expression and Linguistic Analysis

Social media influencers rely on emotional connection to maintain and grow their followings and have value for brands. To date, however, no research has quantitatively examined the impact of emotion in the facial expressions and caption text that influencers use in their video posts on consumer engagement through likes, comments, and views of posts. Grounded in consumer brand engagement, psychological sense of community, and the behavior ecology view of facial displays, this study uses social media analytics, facial expression analysis, and computational linguistic analysis to assess the emotional substance of 402 video posts by prominent micro-, macro-, and mega-influencer mothers, known as InstaMoms, as exemplars of Instagram influencers. The study identifies that the amount of emotion used and specific discrete emotions have a meaningful influence on engagement, and both follower count and presence of branding saliently contribute to a more robust understanding of the relationship. Theoretical and practical implications are identified and discussed.

Multiple psychological senses of community and community influences on personal recovery processes from substance use problems in later life: a collaborative and deductive reflexive thematic analysis

ABSTRACT Purpose There is a pressing need for substance use services to know more about how to promote recovery from substance use problems, particularly in later life. Psychological sense of community (PSOC) is an important recovery dimension. This study aims to clarify in what ways PSOC and communities influence later life recovery processes. Method A collaborative and deductive reflexive thematic approach was used to analyse 23 interviews with older adults in recovery from different substance use problems. Results The findings suggest that PSOC and recovery in later life include multiple communities (relational, geographical, substance use-related, ideal and service-related) and affective states (PSOC and NPSOC). Older adults’ recovery, moreover, can be described as personal and heterogenic (with respect to community relationships, individual needs, type of substance use problem, age of onset and meaningful activities). Conclusions The findings confirm age of onset, type of substance use problem and community memberships as essential to later life recovery. They also supplement prior evidence on community resources and challenges to later life recovery. Importantly, the new findings extend and nuance current understandings of later life recovery. Taken together, the article illustrates MPSOC as a useful concept, with central practical and theoretical implications for later life recovery.

Community participation and subjective wellbeing among the immigrant population in Northern Italy: An analysis of mediators.

Community participation can be a potential strategy to increase the degree of the subjective wellbeing of immigrants within receiving societies. This study aims to analyze the relationship between immigrants' community participation and their subjective wellbeing, testing the two dimensions of sense of mattering (feeling valued and adding value) and psychological sense of community as potential mediators of this relationship. A total of 308 first-generation immigrants living in Northern Italy filled out a questionnaire (45.1% were members of a migrant community-based organization). We found that immigrants who are members of a migrant organization show a higher level of subjective wellbeing, sense of mattering, and psychological sense of community than those who are not members. We also found that the sense of adding value and the psychological sense of community serve as mediators of the relationship between community participation and subjective wellbeing. The findings suggest that active participation is positively related to immigrants' feeling useful and capable of contributing to society and their feeling of belonging, which, in turn, are positively related to their subjective wellbeing. Practical implications are presented, focusing on the need for generative social policies to move beyond the welfarist perspective in which immigrants only "receive" to embrace an active perspective in which immigrants can also "give."

Thriving among international students in the U.S. during the Trump presidency

International students are critical for a flourishing U.S. higher education landscape (Younger, 2018). During the Trump presidency, however, these students faced significant cultural, economic, and social challenges (Peters & Anderson, 2021). To better understand international students’ success, this study sought to identify pathways to their thriving. Thriving derives from positive psychology and views student success as an appreciative, holistic enterprise (Schreiner, 2016). We investigated whether college experiences and environments contributed to the variation in international student thriving at U.S. universities. Utilizing structural equation modeling, we specified a statistical model that explained nearly 70% of the variation in this population’s thriving. Psychological Sense of Community, Institutional Integrity, student-faculty interaction, and spirituality were the most significant contributors to the variation in international student thriving. The implications of these results include a focus on culturally responsive pedagogy and redefining acculturation to include the university’s responsibility to create environments where international students can thrive.

Psychological sense of community, self-rated health and quality of life among older adults in Puerto Rico two years after Hurricane María

ABSTRACT Older adults who experience natural disasters are at risk for immediate and longer-term negative health outcomes and diminished quality of life (QOL), in part due to disruptions to social relationships and protections. We use a risk and resilience framework to examine the protective effects of psychological sense of community (PSOC) on self-rated health (SRH) and QOL for older adults in Puerto Rico 2 years after the devastation of Hurricane María in 2017. Between September 2019 and January 2020, we conducted face-to-face interviews with a nonprobability sample of 154 community-dwelling adults aged 60+ in Puerto Rico. Controlling for covariates, we used multivariate regression to examine the association of PSOC and key social risk factors (mental health, social isolation, and loneliness) with SRH and QOL. Higher levels of PSOC were significantly associated with better SRH and QOL. Regarding risks, worse mental health was significantly associated with lower QOL and SRH, loneliness was significantly related to worse QOL, and social isolation was significantly associated with better SRH and better QOL. PSOC was a protective factor for older adults, suggesting that prevention and intervention efforts should focus on building and sustaining older adults’ sense of community in the longer-term wake of natural disasters.

Validation of the abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) and its association with self-rated health amongst older adults in Puerto Rico.

Social isolation is a well-established determinant of late-life well-being, and it may be particularly relevant for older adults in Puerto Rico following Hurricane María. The abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) is a widely used measure of social isolation, but it has not been validated with Spanish-speaking older adults. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the psychometric properties of a Spanish-language LSNS-6 and (2) examine its association with self-rated health (SRH) and psychological sense of community (PSOC). Data came from face-to-face survey interviews with a nonprobability sample of 154 community-dwelling older adults in Puerto Rico 2 years after Hurricane María. We assessed the LSNS-6's internal consistency reliability and convergent validity. We then conducted structural equational modelling consisting of (1) a measurement model using confirmatory factor analysis to test the factor structure of the LSNS-6 and (2) a structural model using path analysis to examine the direct effect of social isolation on SRH and to test the role of PSOC as a mediator in this relationship. The LSNS-6 demonstrated acceptable internal consistency reliability (α=0.74) and convergent validity, r(151)=-0.33, p < 0.001. A correlated two-factor model (Family and Friends) provided the best fit (comparative fit index=0.986, Tucker-Lewis index=0.975, root mean square error of approximation=0.082, standardised root mean squared residual=0.033). Path model results show the Friends factor was negatively associated with SRH (β=-0.31, p=0.045), whilst the Family factor was nonsignificant. The Friends factor had a statistically significant indirect effect on SRH through PSOC (β=0.08, 95% CI [0.01, 0.29]). Our findings provide insight into the effect of social isolation on health amongst older adults in Puerto Rico and highlight the potential role of PSOC for assessment and intervention with older adults in post-disaster settings.

The role of cyberbullying victimization in the relationship between adult BTS fans' psychological sense of community and wellbeing.

Adult fans of K-Pop band BTS are part of a diverse and global fandom that has an evident psychological sense of community associated with psychosocial benefits such as increases in wellbeing. This study aimed to investigate if cyberbullying victimization plays an influential role in the relationship of BTS fans' psychological sense of community and wellbeing using an online co-designed survey administered to 183 participants. There was a significant positive relationship found between psychological sense of community and wellbeing. The results of a moderation analysis were interpreted as cyberbullying victimization not having an influential role in this positive relationship, despite cyberbullying typically having detrimental effects on interpersonal relationships and communities generally. It was concluded that BTS fans' psychological sense of community may be buffering against the adverse consequences of cyberbullying victimization and/or competent anti-cyberbullyingand online safety practices are being carried out in online BTS fan communities. Implications for anti-cyberbullyingresearchers and cyberbullying prevention efforts are also discussed.

A Scoping Review of Psychological Sense of Community among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Psychological sense of community (PSOC) is an important construct for health and well-being outcomes for community-dwelling older adults. Drawing on the Ecological Theory of Aging and the Age-Friendly Cities (AFC) framework, this scoping review explored how PSOC has been used in research with community-dwelling older adults. This study examined antecedents, correlates, and outcomes of PSOC, with a focus on relevance to theory and practice. Databases were searched between 1986 and 2021 for peer-reviewed journal articles. Searches identified 582 unique articles, and 28 were included in the final sample. Three primary themes emerged in the synthesis: relevance to the AFC framework, PSOC as a predictor of health and well-being outcomes, and the role of PSOC in relocation. Findings from this review show that PSOC serves as a mechanism that links the social and physical AFC environments with health and well-being outcomes. This review also presents mechanisms for how features of the environment relate to PSOC. These findings demonstrate the role of PSOC as a resource to improve person–environment fit. Results from this review can be used to guide future research and inform theory, policy, and practice.

The Impact of Instructional Modality on the Relationship of Psychological Sense of Community to Thriving among Graduate Students

McMillan and Chavis (1986) defined a psychological sense of community (PSC) as feelings of influence, membership, integration, and shared emotional connection. The importance of PSC to graduate student success has been established, but to date, no one has examined the extent to which PSC predicts student thriving when data is disaggregated by instructional modality. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PSC contributes to student thriving to a greater extent for online learners than for those in face-to-face or hybrid programs. Data from the 2018 Graduate Thriving QuotientTM survey administration were analyzed. Analyses of variance determined there were no statistically significant differences in levels of thriving or PSC between the modalities. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis confirmed that PSC accounted for a larger percentage of variance in Thriving Quotient scores among online learners (20.6%) than for either hybrid learners (12.9% of variance) or face-to-face learners (7.5%). This finding suggests that when the proportion of the degree program that is conducted online increases, PSC becomes even more important to students’ thriving.

Digital Socialligators? Social Media-Induced Perceived Support During the Transition to the COVID-19 Lockdown

The sudden COVID-19-induced transition from a physical university life to a virtual one was a painful one for many students. Social distancing measures mean more than a simple change from face-to-face to online education. This study investigates how different social aspects, such as the students’ psychological sense of community, social capital, and use of social media, facilitated the perceived social support during the transition to the COVID-19 lockdown. Our results not only underline social media’s role, but also indicate that the perceived social support, as well as the bonding and bridging social capital, were particularly relevant during the transition process. Our findings are aimed at organizational management by recommending actionable ways in which they could improve social support by organizing computer-supported social networks, social support predictors, and specialized interventions for students with less perceived social support. As such, the study provides unique insights into the COVID-19-induced lockdown situation among students, while offering a transition model that also generalizes to other settings.

A Scoping Review of Psychological Sense of Community among Community Dwelling Older Adults

Psychological sense of community (PSOC) is an important construct for health and well-being outcomes for older adults. Drawing on the Ecological Theory of Aging and the Age-Friendly Cities (AFC) framework, this scoping review explored how PSOC has been used in research with community dwelling older adults. I followed Arksey and O’Malley's (2005) scoping review guidelines. Initial database searches yielded 860 articles. I included 33 in the final sample. I grouped articles based on study populations and conceptualization and operationalization of PSOC. I used thematic analysis to explore topic areas and main findings. The AFC framework guided development of themes and others emerged during analysis. Results show most studies used Asian or White samples and focused on geographic community or neighborhoods. Among the several measures of PSOC, the Brief Sense of Community Scale performed best with older adults. Topical research areas in the thematic analysis were built (1) built environment and neighborhoods, (2) social participation and connection, (3) civic participation, (4) PSOC as a protective factor, (5) health and well-being, (6) relocation, and (7) scale development. PSOC was a consistent predictor of health and well-being and served as a mediator to link neighborhood or environmental characteristics with health and well-being. Future research needs to examine PSOC in geographically and culturally diverse samples and conduct further psychometric testing of PSOC scales with older adults. PSOC is conceptually related to the AFC framework and serves as a mechanism that links AFC features and well-being outcomes. These results can inform practice and refine theory.

Psychometric testing of the Brief Sense of Community Scale with older adults in Puerto Rico.

The Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) is a well-validated measure of psychological sense of community (PSOC), but it has yet to be tested with Spanish-speaking older adults. The current study uses data from face-to-face interviews with a non-probability sample of 154 community-dwelling older adults in Puerto Rico. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test three competing factor structures. We also tested internal consistency reliability and convergent validity. CFA results show the second-order four-factor model was the best fit (χ2 (16) = 20.78, p = 0.187; CFI = 0.997, TLI = 0.995, SRMR = 0.026, RMSEA = 0.044, 90% CI [<0.001, 0.092]). The BSCS showed good reliability (α = 0.85) and was correlated in the expected direction with social network size (r = 0.34, p < 0.001) and loneliness (r = -0.27, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that the BSCS comprises the four domains (membership, needs fulfillment, emotional connection, and influence) from the original PSOC theory. These results inform theory development and can aid program planning, policy, and practice with older adults in Puerto Rico.