Community belonging refers to an individual's sense of inclusion and connectedness within their social network. It involves feeling supported, valued, and accepted by others within that group. Mental health is defined as the state of well-being that encompasses emotional, psychological, and social factors affecting one's thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and interactions with others. Discrimination can be described as prejudice and unfair treatment towards individuals based on characteristics such as race, gender, ethnicity, age, disability, religion, or sexual orientation. Research has shown that discrimination can negatively impact mental health outcomes by increasing stress levels, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. On the other hand, community belonging provides individuals with a sense of support and acceptance which can buffer against the negative effects of discrimination. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between community belonging, discrimination, and mental health outcomes among adults aged 18-65 years old in the United States. The data was obtained from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III) survey conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The sample consisted of 34,6553 respondents who completed the survey online between March 2012 and September 2013. Participants were asked about various demographic characteristics, discriminatory experiences, community belonging, and mental health symptoms using validated scales.
The results showed a significant positive correlation between perceived community belonging and mental health outcomes after controlling for socioeconomic status, physical health, and discrimination experience. Specifically, participants who reported higher levels of community belonging had lower levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts compared to those with low levels of community belonging. Moreover, discrimination significantly predicted poorer mental health outcomes even when accounting for community belonging. These findings suggest that community belonging may be an important protective factor in mediating the link between discrimination and mental health outcomes. This finding is consistent with previous research suggesting that social support buffers the harmful effects of stressors such as discrimination.
Community belonging plays a crucial role in promoting mental health among individuals facing discrimination. Mental health professionals should consider incorporating strategies that promote community belonging into their treatment plans for individuals experiencing discrimination.
Policies aimed at reducing discrimination and increasing community cohesion can help improve mental health outcomes for all members of society.
What is the role of community belonging in mediating the link between discrimination and mental health outcomes?
Discrimination can negatively impact an individual's mental health by creating feelings of isolation, shame, and low self-esteem. Research has shown that strong social connections with others who share similar identities can help buffer the negative effects of discrimination on mental health. Community belonging refers to an individual's sense of connection and identification with a particular group of people.