Public belonging on social media: psychometric validation study of the Turkish desire to belong publicly scale (DTBP)

Abstract

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The sense of belonging is among the most fundamental psychological needs of an individual. Today, in addition to face-to-face interactions, social media platforms also fulfill this need and make it publicly visible. Social media posts of an individual, in particular, can be interpreted as a reflection of their tendency to express a sense of belonging. The current study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Desire to Belong Publicly (DTBP) scale, which aims to explain individual tendencies to display belonging on social media. METHODS: This research, comprised of three separate studies (N = 1046), collected data exclusively from Instagram users. Exploratory factor analysis was used in the first study, and confirmatory factor analysis was used in the second and third studies. Additionally, internal consistency, four-week test-retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity were analyzed. The scale's relationships with social media usage habits, personality traits, social comparison orientation, and perceived ostracism were examined. RESULTS: The findings indicate that the Turkish form of the eight-item DTBP scale has a single-factor structure. The scale has high internal consistency (α = 0.93, ω = 0.93) and high test-retest reliability (r = .80, p < .001) measured at a four-week interval. The scale is related to, but conceptually distinct from, the general belongingness (GB). The CFA conducted in Study 3 indicated that the single-factor structure of the scale was appropriate. DTBP was also positively correlated with social comparison orientation, excessive Instagram usage, and perceived ostracism, and negatively correlated with conscientiousness. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence for a distinct individual-difference construct related to the public display of belonging on social media. The findings suggest that DTBP is associated with several psychosocial variables, including excessive Instagram use, personality traits, perceived ostracism, and social comparison orientation. This scale may contribute to future theoretical and applied studies on understanding digital self-presentation and visible belonging behaviors among Instagram users and within image-based social media contexts.