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Sense of Belonging – Chicago Youth Development Study
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About Sense of Belonging – Chicago Youth Development Study
Scale Name
Sense of Belonging – Chicago Youth Development Study
Author Details
Patrick H. Tolan, Deborah Gorman-Smith, and David B. Henry (2001)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Sense of Belonging – Chicago Youth Development Study, developed by Patrick H. Tolan, Deborah Gorman-Smith, and David B. Henry in 2001, is a dual-report questionnaire designed to measure the extent to which youth and their caregivers feel a sense of loyalty and identity to their neighbors. Targeting youths initially in grades 6 and 8 (ages 11-14) in 1990, with longitudinal follow-up into adulthood, and their primary caregivers in urban settings, the scale was part of the Chicago Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of risk and protective factors for urban youth. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), it aligns with social capital theory (Coleman, 1988) and social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), assessing how community connectedness fosters positive youth outcomes and family well-being.
The scale comprises 8 items per version (youth and caregiver), divided into two subscales: youth belonging (e.g., “I feel loyal to my neighbors”) and caregiver belonging (e.g., “I identify with my neighborhood”). Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = “strongly disagree” to 4 = “strongly agree”). Scores are summed per subscale (range: 8-32 each), with higher scores indicating greater sense of belonging. Validated in urban samples, it is used to assess social cohesion, predict prosocial behavior, and inform community-based interventions.
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals use the scale to evaluate youth and caregiver perceptions of community loyalty, study protective factors, and design prevention programs. Its dual-report format is a strength, but the low reliability for youth belonging and English-only availability may limit reliability and cross-cultural use.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths or Chicago Youth Development Study publications, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses feelings of loyalty and identity to neighbors to support youth and family well-being, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking youths and caregivers to rate their agreement with statements about neighborhood belonging over the past month, using the 4-point scale. Administer both versions separately to capture perspectives.
- Approximate time for completion is 2-3 minutes per respondent, given the 8-item format.
- Administer in a school, home, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for youths with reading difficulties or caregivers as needed.
Reliability and Validity
The Sense of Belonging – Chicago Youth Development Study has variable psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is low for youth belonging (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.52), indicating poor item cohesion, and moderate for caregiver belonging (α = 0.76), suggesting acceptable reliability. The low youth reliability may stem from developmental differences in perceiving abstract concepts like loyalty. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar cohesion measures (r ≈ 0.60-0.80 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as increased prosocial behavior (r ≈ 0.20-0.40) and reduced delinquency (r ≈ -0.15 to -0.35). Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its use in predicting positive behavioral outcomes in longitudinal studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the two-subscale structure (youth and caregiver belonging) supports construct validity. The low youth reliability suggests cautious use, ideally paired with validated measures like the Neighborhood Integration scale (Thornberry et al., 2003).
Available Versions
06-Items
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Sense of Belonging – Chicago Youth Development Study measure?
It measures youth and caregiver feelings of loyalty and identity to their neighbors.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, family researchers, and public health professionals studying urban youths and caregivers.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 2-3 minutes per respondent.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets urban youths in grades 6 and 8 and their caregivers.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but low youth reliability (α = 0.52) suggests use with validated measures.
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