Measuring belongingness: The Social Connectedness and the Social Assurance scales.

1995/04/01 by Richard M. Lee, Steven B. Robbins · 1,406 citations
Psychology · #Applied psychology #Attachment and Relationship Dynamics #Belongingness #Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction #Psychological and Temporal Perspectives Research #Psychology #Social approval #Social connectedness #Social psychology

paper · doi:10.1037/0022-0167.42.2.232

published in Journal of Counseling Psychology 42(2), 232-241 (American Psychological Association)

openalex publication_date 1995/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

The study developed 2 measures of belongingness based on H. Kohut's (1984) self psychology theory. The Social Connectedness Scale and the Social Assurance Scale were constructed with a split-sample procedure on 626 college students. Internal reliability estimates for the 2 scales were.91 and.82, respectively. Test-retest correlations revealed good test stability over a 2-week period (rs = .96 and .84, respectively). Cross-validation for the 2 measures was achieved with confirmatory factor analysis with an incremental fit index greater than .90. Scale functions are described and results are discussed in light of current research and theory

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