The single-item need to belong scale

The need to belong is one of the most fundamental and well-researched human motives. Although a valid 10-item need to belong scale (NTB) is now readily available, many research settings may not afford researchers the luxury of including it, despite its potential relevance to a variety of research questions. The current research constructed and validated a single-item measure that could overcome this limitation. Three studies examined the psychometric properties of a single-item need to belong scale (SIN-B). We examined the concurrent validity of the SIN-B with the NTB in a student sample (Studies 1 & 2), the test–retest reliability of the SIN-B across four months (Study 2), and the construct validity of the SIN-B in a diverse international sample (Study 3). Across all studies, the SIN-B showed good reliability and validity, supporting its use and utility in future research.

► We designed a single-item measure to assess the need to belong (SIN-B).
► The SIN-B explains most of the reliable variance of the longer NTB.
► The SIN-B demonstrates good test–retest reliability.
► The SIN-B and NTB demonstrate similar convergent and divergent validity.