Construct Validity of the Need to Belong Scale: Mapping the Nomological Network

Abstract

Nine studies examined the construct validity of the Need to Belong Scale. The desire for acceptance and belonging correlated with, but was distinct from, variables that involve a desire for social contact, such as extraversion and affiliation motivation. Furthermore, need to belong scores were not related to insecure attachment or unfulfilled needs for acceptance. Need to belong was positively correlated with extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism and with having an identity that is defined in terms of social attributes. Need to belong was associated with emotional reactions to rejection, values involving interpersonal relationships, and subclinical manifestations of certain personality disorders.

It Is All About Being Popular: The Effects of Need for Popularity on Social Network Site Use

“…This confirms the notion that need to belong may be satisfied by maintaining a few intimate relationships, 25 whereas NfP aims at acceptance by a large peer group. Most friends on SNSs are weak ties or even strangers, 24 and relationship maintenance is often fairly superficial.…”

“…Need to belong measures individuals' need to be part of a group and to feel needed (10 statements, e.g., ''I want other people to accept me''; a = 0.74). 25 Self-esteem consisted of 10 statements (e.g., ''On the whole, I am satisfied with myself''; a = 0.85). 26 We decided to focus on entitlement and vanity as facets of narcissism, because overall narcissism scores had been criticized by some authors 27 : Entitlement: nine statements, e.g., ''I demand the best because I'm worth it''; a = 0.86, 28 and vanity: four statements, e.g., ''My looks are worth noticing''; a = 0.67).…”

How listening to music and engagement with other media provide a sense of belonging: An exploratory study of social surrogacy

“…In order to control for those interindividual differences, the Need to Belong Scale was applied (Leary, Kelly, Cottrell, & Schreindorfer, 2013). It consists of 10 items that measure the degree of the respondents' desire to be accepted by other people, seek opportunities to belong to social groups, and negative reactions to rejection or ostracism.…”

Escala de Necessidade de Pertença: Evidências de Qualidade Psicométrica

“…No que se refere ao neuroticismo, Leary, Koch e Hechenbleikner (2001) pontuam que uma possível explicação para essa relação pode ser atribuída ao fato de que indivíduos com escores elevados em necessidade de pertença muitas vezes se sentem inadequadamente aceitos, experienciando emoções negativas (e.g., solidão, raiva). Pessoas que são mais preocupadas com a aceitação e rejeição social comumente sentem-se mais ansiosas ou agressivas quando (Leary, Twenge, & Quinlivan, 2006).Muitas pesquisas desenvolvidas ao longo dos últi-mos anos utilizando a ENP junto a outros construtos relacionados ao desejo por contato social proveram resultados significativos e importantes para o estudo desse fenômeno (e.g., Gangadharbatla, 2008;Leary et al, 2013;Mellor et al, 2008;Pickett et al, 2004). Além disso, essas pesquisas demonstraram a confiabilidade do instrumento (α > .70, CFI > .90) e possibilidade de seu uso em diferentes áreas e contextos.…”

“…Essa relação pode ser explicada pelo fato de indivíduos que experienciam alta necessidade de pertencer por vezes não se sentirem adequadamente aceitos pelos seus pares, desenvolvendo assim comportamentos e sentimentos negativos (e.g., agressividade, ansiedade, solidão; Leary et al, 2006;Leary et al, 2001). Dada a incerteza de aceitação dos pares em relação ao indivíduo, pessoas que apresentam altos escores de neuroticismo podem apresentar certo grau de insegurança a respeito dos seus relacionamentos (Leary et al, 2013). Os autores citam que essa busca por aceitação seria uma forma desses indivíduos lidarem com os seus sentimentos negativos.…”