Associations between sense of community and wellbeing: A comprehensive variable and person-centered exploration

The study aims to better understand the relationship between sense of community (SOC) and wellbeing from multiple analytical perspectives, considering different aspects of wellbeing and individual contextual factors.

Four hundred and ninety-one adults from Québec, Canada, completed an online survey, and 296 also completed it a month later. We explored 1) cross-sectional associations between SOC and wellbeing, 2) latent profiles of people, underlying the association between SOC and wellbeing, and 3) cross-lagged relationships between SOC and wellbeing.

Correlation and regression showed that SOC and wellbeing were related cross-sectionally, although the association with negative wellbeing was weaker. Latent profile analysis identified four profiles showing differing SOC-wellbeing associations. Cross-lagged analyses showed that over time, SOC only marginally predicted emotional wellbeing but that wellbeing systematically predicted SOC.

Researchers and psychologists should acknowledge the complexity of relationships between SOC and wellbeing using person-centered perspectives. Social justice and wellbeing promotion implications are discussed.