Belongingness and Perceived Flourishing Among Treatment Court Participants: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Belongingness is a well-established protective factor in educational settings and is associated with improved psychological and behavioral outcomes (Murphy et al., 2020; Brady et al., 2020; Arslan, 2018). However, this line of research has yet to be examined in criminal legal system contexts, a salient setting for studying belongingness given that justice-involved individuals may be at heightened risk of belonging uncertainty (Miller, 2021). This paper addresses the gap in the literature by examining the association between general belongingness and perceived flourishing among treatment court participants (TCPs) in a Midwestern treatment court circuit, controlling for race, gender, income, and length of criminal legal system involvement.

As part of a mixed-methods study examining belongingness in treatment courts, data were collected using a cross-sectional survey design. TCPs were recruited in person at the courthouse. The sample (N = 139) had a mean age of 41.99 years (SD = 10.37; range = 21–71), with most participants identifying as men (67.6%) and as White (68.3%). Surveys were administered face-to-face in private rooms within the courthouse and required approximately 30 minutes to complete. Participants provided demographic information and completed validated measures of general belongingness and perceived flourishing. Upon completion, participants received a $20 cash incentive. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Prior to hypothesis testing, confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs), internal consistency reliability analyses, and evaluation of model assumptions were conducted.

CFAs supported the proposed structures of both measures. The General Belongingness Scale demonstrated excellent fit for a two-factor model, χ²(53) = 104.92, CFI = .99, TLI = .99, SRMR = .07, RMSEA = .084, with strong item loadings (λ = .58–.86) and excellent internal consistency (α = .91, ω = .91). The Flourishing Scale demonstrated acceptable fit for a one-factor model, CFI = .98, TLI = .97, SRMR = .076, RMSEA = .092, with significant factor loadings (λ = .43–.82) and acceptable reliability (α = .77). The regression model was statistically significant, F(5, 133) = 22.68, p < .001, explaining 46% of the variance in flourishing (R² = .46, adjusted R² = .44). General belongingness was significantly and positively associated with flourishing (b = 0.44, SE = 0.04, t = 10.55, p < .001), indicating higher belongingness corresponded with higher psychological well-being at the time of measurement. None of the covariates were significant. Although heteroskedasticity was detected (Breusch–Pagan p = .03), the association between belongingness and flourishing remained statistically significant with robust standard errors and showed no meaningful change.

Results suggest that belongingness is an important correlate of psychological well-being among TCPs. Although causality cannot be inferred, findings indicate that belongingness may represent a meaningful target for treatment court programming and practice. Specifically, integrating strategies within these settings that foster a sense of belonging may help support participant well-being. These findings inform efforts to improve treatment delivery in these settings by identifying a psychological need that may be targeted to enhance overall participant well-being. Future research should clarify directionality and examine whether increases in belongingness during treatment predict program completion and long-term outcomes.