Sense of Belonging and Active Engagement within Faith-based Congregational Settings among Khmer Adults Aged 18 Years and Older: A Quantitative Correlational Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59261/jlsp.v4i5.179Keywords:
sense of belonging, active engagement, faith-based congregation, khmer adultsAbstract
Background: Belonging is a fundamental human need that transcends cultural, geographic, and spiritual boundaries, yet belongingness research has concentrated on secular settings and rarely examines faith-based congregations as a cohesive framework.
Objective: This study addresses that gap by testing the belonging–engagement relationship among Khmer adults in Cambodia and by modeling social support and intrinsic motivation as moderators rather than parallel predictors. This quantitative correlational study investigated the relationship between sense of belonging and active engagement within faith-based congregational settings among Khmer adults aged 18 years and older.
Methods: A convenience sample of 125 Khmer adults completed a confidential online questionnaire using validated self-report instruments; data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics via SPSS.
Results: Sense of belonging was not significantly related to engagement (r(125) = ?0.04, p = 0.663), and neither commitment-based social support (b = 0.18, p = 0.125) nor intrinsic motivation (b = 0.59, p = 0.095) moderated that relationship. Both moderators nevertheless exerted significant direct effects on engagement (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: These findings indicate that emotional attachment does not automatically translate into behavioral participation, and faith-based organizations should therefore pair inclusive relational climates with clear motivational and structural supports, while psychological research should treat belonging and engagement as distinct constructs.
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