Sense of Belonging, Meaningful Daily Life Participation, and Well-Being: Integrated Investigation

Abstract

The association between well-being, sense of belonging, connectedness to community, and meaningful participation in daily life occupations was theoretically proved and demonstrated in several health conditions or specific age groups. This study aimed to investigate an interplay between well-being, sense of belonging, and connectedness, and meaningful participation in a range of daily life occupations among healthy adults of working age in Israel. Participants (N = 121; age: M = 30.8, SD = 10.1; women: N = 94, 77.7%) completed standard instruments to evaluate the main constructs through an internet survey. A variety of communities, that the participants reported to belong to, were not different in the sense of belonging and connectedness, participation dimensions, and well-being. An association was found between sense of belonging and connectedness, the participation subjective dimension, and well-being (0.18 < r_p < 0.47, p < 0.05). Sense of belonging explained in a significant way the variance in well-being (F(3) = 14.7, p < 0.001; R² = 0.274) and was found to be a mediator between participation and well-being (1.86 < Sobel test < 2.39, p < 0.05). The study provides empirical support to the interrelationship between meaningful participation, sense of belonging and connectedness, and well-being in a healthy population. Participation in a range of meaningful activities that contribute to the sense of belonging and connectedness as a universal concept could further promote well-being.

Keywords: community belonging; daily life occupations; healthy population; participation diversity.

Figure 1

Mediation effects: sense of connectedness and belonging. Note: ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; SCI-2—Sense of Community Index, 2; SOBI—Sense of Belonging Instrument; MAPA—Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment; and SWLS—Satisfaction with Life Scale.