Component Measures of Psychological Sense of Community
These measures were created with the goal of having individual measures with good
internal consistency for McMillan and Chavis’ (1986) four theoretical components of
psychological sense of community (PSOC). Items from existing measures, including
the Sense of Community Index, were included in a pilot testing process in which
psychology faculty and graduate students attempted to sort items into definitions of
Membership, Shared Emotional Connection, Influence, and Fulfillment of Needs. Items
with high inter-rater agreement were further pilot tested for clarity of wording with gay
men and then administered to 348 men who identified as gay or bisexual. Confirmatory
Factor Analysis supported a three-factor model with Influence, Shared Emotional
Connection, and Fulfillment of Needs/Belonging; it was impossible, empirically, to
distinguish between the Fulfillment of Needs and Membership factors. Measures for
these three PSOC components and the combined PSOC measure evidenced good
reliabilities (.82-.87). Validity testing results supported the three component measures
and the combined measure.
Proescholdbell, R.J., Roosa, M. R., & Nemeroff, C. J. (2006). Component measures of
psychological sense of community among gay men. Journal of Community
Psychology, 34(1), 9-24.
The next set of questions asks your opinions about the gay male community. Please
choose the response that fits best for you.
Feel that you can get help from gay men if you need it?
Feel that you help other people in the gay male
community when they need help?
Feel like you belong in the gay male community?
Feel that you are a member of the gay male community?
Feel a part of the gay male community?
How many of your needs do you feel are met by the gay male community?
None, A few, About half, Most, All
A great deal
A fair amount
Some
A little
How much do you:
None
Fulfillment of Needs and Membership
Extremely
Very
Moderately
In general,
Slightly
Not at all
Shared Emotional Connection
How well do gay men get along with each other?
How warmly do gay men feel toward each other?
How friendly do gay men feel toward each other?
How thoughtful are gay men toward each other?
How much of a sense of camaraderie do gay men feel with each other?
None, A little, Some, A fair amount, A great deal
Feel able to influence the actions, thoughts, and feelings
of other gay men?
Feel that your opinion matters to other gay men?
Care about what gay men think of your actions?
Feel you can influence what the gay male community is
like?
Feel that other gay men influence your thoughts and
actions?
Feel that the opinions of other gay men matter to you?
A great deal
A fair amount
Some
A little
How much do you:
None
Influence