Sense of Belonging Scale Development and Viability

Abstract

A sense of belonging measure was developed using items from a large survey administered to students in 5th, 8th, 9th, and 11th grade in Minnesota. Validity evidence, via regression analyses, was obtained that supported the interpretation and use of the measure in an adolescent-student sample. Regression results showed that Students of Color, compared to White students, experienced lower levels of sense of belonging. Sense of belonging also appears to be associated with academic engagement and disengagement variables, however, the effects were more prominent for White students than for Students of Color.