Belonging and Group Identification as a Mechanism
Trials and surveys of group identification and community belonging: a group-identification program reduced loneliness more than usual care, with stronger belonging to multiple groups (Haslam 2019), and community identification is reported to relate to well-being through social support and reduced loneliness (McNamara 2021).
- Loneliness with persistent low mood, hopelessness, or thoughts of self-harm: see a clinician or mental-health professional; in crisis call or text 988
What the evidence says
The sources are trials and surveys of belonging, group identification and community identification. Haslam 2019 (randomised trial) reports that the Groups 4 Health program produced a greater reduction in loneliness (d = −1.04) and social anxiety than treatment as usual, fewer GP visits and stronger belonging to multiple groups (d = 0.52), and concludes that it can be a useful way to treat loneliness; Haslam 2016 (non-randomised trial) reports that the same program improved mental health, well-being and social connectedness at completion and 6-month follow-up, underpinned by increased social identification, and calls it promising pending randomised examination. Haslam 2010 (randomised trial) reports that only group interventions produced effective outcomes. Brady 2020 and Walton 2011 (randomised trials) report that a brief social-belonging intervention in the transition to college improved outcomes years later for Black students. Fong 2021 reports that hosting a Neighbour Day event increased neighbourhood identification, which predicted increased social cohesion, reduced loneliness and improved wellbeing, and Cruwys 2022 (quasi-experimental study) reports that Neighbour Day participants had higher neighbourhood identification and were protected against negative mental-health effects of lockdown; McNamara 2021 reports the community identification–well-being relationship mediated by social support and reduced loneliness; Wakefield 2020 (cohort) reports social prescribing associated with increased group memberships, with quality of life mediated by belonging, support and loneliness; Cruwys 2014 reports social identification predicted recovery from depression. Michalski 2020 (cross-sectional) reports weaker community belonging associated with poorer general and mental health, and Michalski 2024 (cohort) that the belonging–mortality relationship differs across age groups. Moss 2025 (scoping review of 23 studies) reports belonging associated with mental health outcomes in older Americans, with mixed effects on physical health.
- Misconception: 'Any social contact reduces loneliness.' Interventions that add contact without building shared identity perform worse than those that do.
- Does not treat depression, anxiety or social anxiety
- Loneliness is a normal signal, not a diagnosis
- Agreement
- Direction recorded for 0 of 13 sources; not yet recorded for the rest.
- The claim's outcome
- Outcome not yet recorded
- Certainty
- No source states a certainty rating.
- Authors
- Sources share authors: C. Haslam (first author of 3 sources); Camilla Michalski (first author of 2 sources); T. Cruwys (first author of 2 sources); Elizabeth Mair (senior author of 2 sources); Laura Rosella (senior author of 2 sources).
What each source measured and concluded (13)
- What it measured
- Career satisfaction and success, psychological well-being, and community involvement and leadership.
- How it measured it
- Self-report composites (validated).
- How it was read
- read in full text
- What it measured
- Grade-point average (GPA).
- How it measured it
- Official academic transcripts (objective).
- How it was read
- read in full text
- What it measured
- Cognitive screening and well-being measures (pre- and post-intervention)
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What it measured
- Wellbeing, neighbourhood identification, social cohesion
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What it measured
- Quality-of-life and health/well-being via social connectedness
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What it measured
- Loneliness (primary); depression, social anxiety, GP visits, multiple group membership (secondary)
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What it measured
- Depression symptoms
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What it measured
- Self-rated general health and self-rated mental health
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What it measured
- Personal well-being and loneliness
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What it measured
- Premature mortality
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What it measured
- Mental health (depression, anxiety, stress), well-being, and social connectedness
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What it measured
- Neighbourhood social identification, loneliness, wellbeing
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What it measured
- Mental and physical health outcomes associated with belonging
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
- What the review says it includes
- Scoping review (PRISMA-ScR)
- Studies and participants, as stated
- 23 studies included
Every source below is shown with its study design and links to the original study. This is the audit trail.