13 sources: 2 cohort studies, 1 cross-sectional study, 2 non-randomised trials, 4 randomised controlled trials, 1 systematic review, 3 with design not recorded
Social · Practice
Get Involved in Your Local Community
Joining neighbourhood and community activities: one way to carry out what the sources on group identification and community belonging studied (Haslam 2019; Fong 2021).
Beta content: this dimension's review set is version 0.9-beta and upgrades in place after the Round-2 internal reviews.
a few times a month
Beginner-friendlyIn-person or local-online
Before you start
Access varies by locale, mobility, and resources
When to seek a professional
- Persistent loneliness or isolation accompanied by low mood, hopelessness, loss of interest, or withdrawal lasting 2+ weeks: encourage contact with a primary care provider or mental health professional
- Thoughts of self-harm or that life is not worth living: direct to crisis line / emergency services immediately
How to do it
Attend or contribute to a community activity a few times a month
variesFor most adultsOlder adultsNew to the area
What the evidence says
What the sources say
This practice is one way to carry out what the sources on the concept entry (soc.belonging-mechanism) studied: group identification and community belonging. Haslam 2019 (randomised trial) reports that a group-identification program produced a greater reduction in loneliness than treatment as usual, with stronger belonging to multiple groups. Fong 2021 reports that hosting a Neighbour Day event increased neighbourhood social identification, which predicted increased social cohesion, reduced loneliness and improved wellbeing, and McNamara 2021 reports the community identification–well-being relationship mediated by increased social support and reduced loneliness. The full account, source by source, is on the concept entry this practice links to (soc.belonging-mechanism).
Common misconceptions
- Myth: you need to already know locals. Reality: community activities are a way to meet them.
What we won't claim
- Do not present this practice as a treatment or cure for clinical depression, anxiety disorders, or diagnosable loneliness-related conditions
- Do not claim it replaces professional mental-health care
- Do not promise it will prevent disease or extend lifespan for any individual
13 sources: 2 cohort studies, 1 cross-sectional study, 2 non-randomised trials, 4 randomised controlled trials, 1 systematic review, 3 with design not recorded
- 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)
randomised controlled trial · 2020
Brady et al. (2020) — A brief social-belonging intervention in college improves adult outcomes for black Americans
- 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
randomised controlled trial · 2011
Walton et al. (2011) — A Brief Social-Belonging Intervention Improves Academic and Health Outcomes of Minority Students
- What it measured
- Grade-point average (GPA).
- How it measured it
- Official academic transcripts (objective).
- How it was read
- read in full text
randomised controlled trial · 2010
Haslam et al. (2010) — The social treatment: the benefits of group interventions in residential care settings.
- What it measured
- Cognitive screening and well-being measures (pre- and post-intervention)
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
non-randomised trial · 2022
Cruwys et al. (2022) — A community-led intervention to build neighbourhood identification predicts better wellbeing following prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns
- What it measured
- Wellbeing, neighbourhood identification, social cohesion
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
cohort study · 2020
Wakefield et al. (2020) — Social Prescribing as ‘Social Cure’: A longitudinal study of the health benefits of social connectedness within a Social Prescribing pathway
- What it measured
- Quality-of-life and health/well-being via social connectedness
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
randomised controlled trial · 2019
Haslam et al. (2019) — GROUPS 4 HEALTH reduces loneliness and social anxiety in adults with psychological distress: Findings from a randomized controlled trial.
- What it measured
- Loneliness (primary); depression, social anxiety, GP visits, multiple group membership (secondary)
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
design not recorded · 2014
Cruwys et al. (2014) — Feeling connected again: interventions that increase social identification reduce depression symptoms in community and clinical settings.
- What it measured
- Depression symptoms
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
cross-sectional study · 2020
Michalski et al. (2020) — Relationship between sense of community belonging and self-rated health across life stages
- What it measured
- Self-rated general health and self-rated mental health
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
design not recorded · 2021
McNamara et al. (2021) — Community identification, social support, and loneliness: The benefits of social identification for personal well‐being
- What it measured
- Personal well-being and loneliness
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
cohort study · 2024
Michalski et al. (2024) — A national cohort study of community belonging and its influence on premature mortality
- What it measured
- Premature mortality
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
non-randomised trial · 2016
Haslam et al. (2016) — Groups 4 Health: Evidence that a social-identity intervention that builds and strengthens social group membership improves mental health.
- What it measured
- Mental health (depression, anxiety, stress), well-being, and social connectedness
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
design not recorded · 2021
Fong et al. (2021) — Evidence that loneliness can be reduced by a whole-of-community intervention to increase neighbourhood identification.
- What it measured
- Neighbourhood social identification, loneliness, wellbeing
- How it was read
- screened only, not extracted
systematic review · 2025
Moss et al. (2025) — Belonging and Health Outcomes in Older Americans: A Scoping Review
- 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
Key sources (13)
Every source below is shown with its study design and links to the original study. This is the audit trail.
randomised controlled trialA brief social-belonging intervention in college improves adult outcomes for black Americans
randomised controlled trialA Brief Social-Belonging Intervention Improves Academic and Health Outcomes of Minority Students
randomised controlled trialThe social treatment: the benefits of group interventions in residential care settings.
non-randomised trialA community-led intervention to build neighbourhood identification predicts better wellbeing following prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns
cohort studySocial Prescribing as ‘Social Cure’: A longitudinal study of the health benefits of social connectedness within a Social Prescribing pathway
randomised controlled trialGROUPS 4 HEALTH reduces loneliness and social anxiety in adults with psychological distress: Findings from a randomized controlled trial.
design not recordedFeeling connected again: interventions that increase social identification reduce depression symptoms in community and clinical settings.
cross-sectional studyRelationship between sense of community belonging and self-rated health across life stages
design not recordedCommunity identification, social support, and loneliness: The benefits of social identification for personal well‐being
cohort studyA national cohort study of community belonging and its influence on premature mortality
non-randomised trialGroups 4 Health: Evidence that a social-identity intervention that builds and strengthens social group membership improves mental health.
design not recordedEvidence that loneliness can be reduced by a whole-of-community intervention to increase neighbourhood identification.
systematic reviewBelonging and Health Outcomes in Older Americans: A Scoping Review
Explore all 367 studies in Social →
The full evidence base this focus area draws on, every study with its design and DOI.What it is for
Feel more connected to peopleFeel part of a community