The Challenged Sense of Belonging Scale (CSBS)—A Validation Study in English, Arabic, and Farsi/Dari Among Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Germany

Authors

  • Lukas M. Fuchs Orcid
    Institute of Sociology, Free University Berlin, Garystr. 55, 14195, Berlin
  • Jannes Jacobsen
    Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) at German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Mohrenstr. 58, 10117, Berlin
  • Lena Walther
    Institute of Sociology, Free University Berlin, Garystr. 55, 14195, Berlin; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin
  • Eric Hahn
    Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin
  • Thi Minh Tam Ta
    Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin
  • Malek Bajbouj
    Institute of Sociology, Free University Berlin, Garystr. 55, 14195, Berlin; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin
  • Christian von Scheve
    Institute of Sociology, Free University Berlin, Garystr. 55, 14195, Berlin; Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) at German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), Mohrenstr. 58, 10117, Berlin

Abstract

This study introduces and investigates the validity of a brief scale measuring a challenged sense of belonging. The sense of belonging as well as challenges to this sense are important, albeit neglected aspects of social integration and of significance to migration and refugee studies as well as to virtually all other social science contexts. Assessing a challenged or eroded sense of belonging provides important insights into how individuals relate to their environment and whether they feel socially connected or disconnected from it. The construct goes beyond national or cultural identity, instead emphasizing the dynamic processes of emotional attachment. Reviewing the substantial theoretical literature on belonging, we identify four of its key elements: connection, participation, identification, and congruence. Drawing on existing measurement instruments, we propose a brief Challenged Sense of Belonging Scale (CSBS) that addresses each of the four elements and investigate its validity in a unique, multi-lingual random sample of 3783 adult refugees in Germany from various national and cultural backgrounds. We provide evidence for the scale’s validity separately for three main survey languages (English, Arabic, Farsi/Dari) using confirmatory factor analysis, a test of measurement invariance, item test and rest correlations, and correlation analysis to explore convergent validity. Our findings suggest that the scale is a suitable instrument for the assessment of a challenged sense of belonging in a heterogeneous population of refugees.