Sense of Community in New Zealand Neighbourhoods: A Multi-Level Model Predicting Social Capital

Abstract

Feeling like one belongs and is accepted in meaningful social groups has been reliably linked to wellbeing and health-related outcomes in numerous studies. Given the importance of belongingness as a form of social capital, we developed and evaluated a broad-scale Multilevel Random Coefficient Model predicting residents’ sense of community (belongingness in the community) in a large nationally representative telephone sample of New Zealanders (N = 6631). Our model integrated both neighbourhood-level characteristics (e.g., regional deprivation and the proportion of smokers) and person-level characteristics (e.g., income, perceptions of local community problems, age and engagement in sports) within a single unified framework. We organized these variables into two conceptual categories that are either (a) costly (or entirely unfeasible) to change or (b) feasible to change. By contrasting these various features within a single unified model with a multilevel structure, we provide base-rate information which can aid in informing policy decisions regarding the most readily applicable (and possibly costeffective) methods for improving residents’ sense of community. Our model identified the following feasible methods of increasing social capital within New Zealand communities: (a) reducing noise pollution, (b) increasing and promoting participation in local sports teams, and (c) increasing the diversity and appreciation of the local arts scene.