Is there a universal sense of belonging?

The need to belong is one of the fundamental human needs. At the same time, belonging is not a stable but a dynamic feeling shaped by social relationships, experiences, and societal conditions. The project “Is there a universal sense of belonging?” investigates whether this feeling can be measured independently of migration experiences.

The core of the project is the assessment and validation of the “Challenged Sense of Belonging Scale” (CSBS) using data from the DeZIM.panel, a representative population survey in Germany. The CSBS captures, across four dimensions—identification, participation, congruence, and connectedness—the extent to which individuals feel socially included or alienated. While the scale was originally developed for surveys among refugees, the project examines its applicability in the general population.

To this end, data from more than 3,000 respondents without a migration background are analyzed. The study tests the reliability and validity of the scale and examines how the sense of belonging is associated with factors such as social trust, experiences of discrimination, and societal participation.

The results show that the CSBS can be successfully applied beyond migration contexts. The project thus makes an important contribution to the social scientific study of belonging and to a conceptually broader perspective on social integration that takes both individual and structural influences into account.

Previous studies on belonging have often focused on groups with migration experiences or on specific contexts such as displacement, integration, or educational settings. As a result, it has remained largely unexplored whether and how feelings of belonging can be captured in the general population. The project addresses this gap by testing the Challenged Sense of Belonging Scale (CSBS) for the first time in a representative population dataset. It thereby contributes to understanding belonging as a general social and psychological phenomenon—beyond national or migration-related boundaries—and provides an empirical basis for comparative studies across different population groups.

The project aims to empirically test the Challenged Sense of Belonging Scale (CSBS) as a tool for measuring belonging and to validate its applicability beyond migration contexts. It seeks to demonstrate that belonging is a universal, cross-situational experience that is also relevant and measurable in the general population. In addition, the project aims to identify which individual and societal factors—such as trust, social participation, or discrimination—are associated with a challenged sense of belonging. In doing so, it provides an empirical foundation for research and policy aimed at strengthening social integration and societal cohesion.

The study validates the Challenged Sense of Belonging Scale (CSBS) using data from the DeZIM.panel, a representative survey of the population in Germany. The analysis includes more than 3,000 individuals without personal or familial migration experience. A multi-step procedure was used, including statistical analyses of the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the scale to assess its measurement quality. Additionally, the study examines how the CSBS relates to relevant concepts such as social trust, experiences of discrimination, and social inclusion. This approach tests whether the scale reliably captures belonging as a universal social phenomenon—independent of migration, origin, or life context.

The study confirms that the Challenged Sense of Belonging Scale (CSBS) can be used reliably and validly in the general population. The scale represents a coherent construct and shows good internal consistency. The analyses indicate that a challenged sense of belonging is closely linked to key social factors: individuals with higher levels of trust in others, regular social contact, and a strong identification with Germany report a lower likelihood of experiencing a diminished sense of belonging. Conversely, experiences of discrimination show a clear negative association. Overall, the study demonstrates that belonging is a universal social experience shaped not only by migration but also by everyday social dynamics.

• Preprint: https://osf.io/ercmu/files/jxhpu 
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42409-021-00021-y