Relationships between Sense of Community, Authenticity, and Meaning in Life in Four Social Communities in France

Abstract

This research explored the effects of sense of community and authenticity on meaning in life in social communities in France. The sample included one hundred participants from four social communities (i.e., political, religious, virtual learning, and mutual aid). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire, the Sense of Community Scale, and the Authenticity Scale were administered to the respondents. The correlational analyses indicated that sense of community and authenticity were more related to the presence of meaning (r = 0.29 and r = 0.54, respectively) than to the search for meaning (r = −0.39 and r = 0.03, respectively). In addition, no interaction effects were found between sense of community and the three dimensions of authenticity, suggesting that the level of authenticity did not influence the relationships between sense of community and presence of or search for meaning. The practical and research implications of the study for social communities in the field of existential psychology were discussed.

Meaning in life and the quest for authenticity in touristic experiences among Turkish tourists

“…Several subjective authenticity themes could be explored, such as OA, drawing on their sense of being a tourist to find a path towards an understanding of ML. For instance businesses could usefully gather information about tourists' actions and behaviors that reveal their values and fundamental personal beliefs (Moisseron-Baudé et al , 2022). Reisinger and Steiner (2006) describe how the process of forming individuals' subjective perceptions of authenticity works like a black box.…”

“…Research on authenticity and presence of meaning beyond the tourism literature also has important implications (Wilt et al , 2021). Perceived authenticity is linked to increased motivation to pursue one's goals (Kim et al , 2018; Zhang et al , 2018a, b), which is a dimension of meaning in life that is positively related to overall meaning in life (Moisseron-baudé et al , 2022). The meaning in life literature demonstrates that by seeking and creating meaning through experiences that give positive emotions, people can escape from psychological and physiological distress.…”

The mediating roles of optimism, loneliness, and psychological distress in the association between a sense of community and meaning in life among older adults

“…The psychological sense of community as a construct is recognized in the literature; nevertheless, specifying precise mechanisms regarding its favorable outcomes in various groups is complicated (Bess et al, 2002). Studies suggest that a sense of community increases in later life (Moisseron‐Baudé et al, 2022), which according to a recent review needs further research attention among the older population (Buckley, 2022). With this regard, a particular focus needing further exploration is the relationship between a sense of community among older adults and variables related to life satisfaction (Buckley, 2022).…”

“…With this regard, a particular focus needing further exploration is the relationship between a sense of community among older adults and variables related to life satisfaction (Buckley, 2022). Specifically, there is a lacuna in empirical studies concerning the examination of the relationship between a sense of community and meaning in life in older adults (Moisseron‐Baudé et al, 2022). On this basis, the current study aims to examine broaden the existing knowledge by examining the relationship between a sense of community and meaning in life among community‐dwelling older adults.…”

“…Considering the above, the currents study aimed to examine the relationship between a sense of community and meaning in life among older adults, which has been highlighted as essential due to the gap in the literature (Moisseron‐Baudé et al, 2022). Moreover, based on previous studies, and with the aim of deepening the understanding of this relationship, we examined the contribution of optimism, loneliness, and psychological distress in this relationship.…”