Validation of the Brief Sense of Community Scale among youth of color from an underserved urban community

Abstract

Neighborhood sense of community (SOC) is a key construct in the community psychology literature. While the research on neighborhood SOC has progressed significantly, there is a need to further validate the Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) among youth. A critical area of scholarship, therefore, is to examine the factor structure of the BSCS among a cohort of adolescents, particularly from the United States. This study tested the factor structure of the BSCS among a sample of urban youth of color (N = 383) using SPSS AMOS, a structural equation modeling software. After testing the factor structure, we examined the relationships between each of the BSCS subscales and conceptually related variables (e.g., psychological empowerment, relational power, and school importance). Results from this study confirm the first‐ and second‐order factor structure of the BSCS among youth. BSCS and its underlying subscales were both correlated with one another and correlated with the intrapersonal component of psychological empowerment, relational power, and school importance. Our findings have critical implications for the field of community psychology and the development and use of the BSCS among adolescents.

Contextualizing negative sense of community and disconnection among urban youth of color: “Community…We ain't got that”

“…Membership has been defined as perceived belongingness to a community (McMillan & Chavis, ) and marking the boundary between those who are a part of community and those who are perceived to not be part of community (Mannarini et al, ). Membership also encompasses perceived sense of safety in the community and commitment (Lardier, Reid, & Garcia‐Reid, ). Influence has been defined as the perceived feeling of making a difference in the community (McMillan & Chavis, ) and community influencing the individual (Mannarini et al, ).…”

“…Needs fulfillment concerns the perception that one's needs will be met by the community or group (McMillan & Chavis, ) and resources will be shared among and between those in the community (Mannarini et al, ; Talo et al, ). Last, emotional connection has been defined as shared history through common places or experiences (McMillan & Chavis, ), and being involved in collective experiences that benefit the community at‐large (Lardier et al, ).…”

“…Needs fulfillment concerns the perception that oneʼs needs will be met by the community or group ) and resources will be shared among and between those in the community Talo et al, 2014). Last, emotional connection has been defined as shared history through common places or experiences , and being involved in collective experiences that benefit the community at-large (Lardier et al, 2018b). Chavis, Hogge, McMillan, and Wandersman (1986) also raised the idea that there were both positive and negative sides to SOC or community connection.…”

Sense of community in poverty contexts in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico: A transcultural study

“…It was identified that the structural disadvantage caused by poverty reinforced the relations between neighbors, with a collective action in solving the problems (Bolland, & Debra, 2002; Walton, 2016). Thus, it is necessary to develop more research with people in situations of poverty in peripheral contexts (Flaherty, Zwick, & Bouchey, 2014; Lardier, Reid, & Garcia‐Reid, 2018; Loomis & Wright, 2018; Peterson, Speer, & Hughey, 2006).…”

“…Thus, the discussion of socio‐cultural issues is broadened. There is also the need to study the dimensions of poverty and its relations with the SC in Latin American countries with a strong social inequality (Nepomuceno, Barbosa, Ximenes, and Cardoso (2017), because most studies on the SC occur in rich countries (Flaherty et al, 2014; Lardier et al, 2018; Loomis & Wright, 2018; Peterson et al, 2006). Nepomuceno et al (2017) understand that the SC represents an important concept in the analysis of the poverty phenomenon, since it allows to gather information on how individuals and collectivities articulate themselves toward a common goal.…”