The Reciprocal Relationship between Sense of Community and Social Well-Being: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis

The aim of this study was to examine the directionality of the association between dimension of social well-being and sense of community. The present study investigated the nature of these relationships using a longitudinal cross-lagged design applied to data from a sample of 298 undergraduate/master students at an Italian public university. Correlations analysis revealed that the relationship between sense of community and social coherence was not significant. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, we found that sense of community predicted follow up social integration and social contribution controlling for the effects of baseline social integration and social contribution. In addition, baseline social integration predicted subsequent levels of sense of community controlling for baseline levels of sense of community. Contrary to expectations, sense of community at Time 1 did not predict social acceptance and social actualization at Time 2. Moreover, the cross-lagged relationships between Time 1 social acceptance, social actualization, and social contribution and Time 2 sense of community were not significant. These findings did not differ across gender.