Psychometric properties of the brief sense of community scale for urban-dwelling older adults

Background and Objectives: 

As populations age and diversify, understanding older adults’ sense of community becomes critical for promoting their well-being. This study aimed to validate the Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) among community-dwelling older adults of native Dutch and migrant backgrounds living in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 

Research Design and Methods: 

A representative sample of 862 individuals aged 65 years and older completed the BSCS. The sample included 300 (34.8%) native Dutch, 211 (24.5%) Turkish-Dutch, 200 (23.2%) Surinamese-Dutch, and 151 (17.5%) Moroccan-Dutch participants. Psychometric properties were assessed through analyses of internal consistency, factorial validity, and measurement invariance across gender and ethnicity, based on established theoretical frameworks of sense of community. 

Results: 

Confirmatory factor analyses supported both the first-order and second-order four-factor models of the BSCS, with good model fit indices. For the second-order four-factor model, these were CFI = 0.97, RMSEA = 0.06, and SRMR = 0.027. The full scale showed strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.88), with subscale reliabilities ranging from 0.64 to 0.88. Measurement invariance testing confirmed configural, metric, scalar, and (for gender) strict invariance, indicating that the BSCS functions equivalently across gender and the four largest ethnic groups in the Netherlands. These findings support the scale’s structural validity and cross-group comparability in diverse older adult populations. 

Discussion and Implications: 

The BSCS is a reliable and valid measure of sense of community for both native and migrant older adults. It offers valuable insights for research, policy, and initiatives aiming to improve social connectedness and well-being in multicultural urban settings.