Conceptualizing Belongingness and Belonging Uncertainty: Potential Implications for Rehabilitation Outcomes

• In Event: Innovations in Probation Supervision

Abstract

Justice-involved individuals participating in court-mandated substance use treatment programs are at a heightened risk of experiencing belonging uncertainty. This is particularly concerning given that a sense of belonging is a fundamental human need with profound implications for well-being. Despite extensive research in other contexts establishing belongingness as a protective factor, research into its role in rehabilitation programs within the criminal legal system remains scarce. In this paper, I examine the concepts of belongingness and belonging uncertainty through an interdisciplinary lens, drawing on theoretical frameworks and empirical research to explore their relationship with well-being. Through this analysis, I identify critical gaps in existing scholarship. I conclude with a call for researchers and practitioners to consider belongingness as a potential determinant of rehabilitation outcomes and emphasize the need for more research in this area. This paper adds to the expanding body of research recognizing social and relational factors that contribute to criminal justice outcomes.

Author

• Elizabeth Taylor, University of Missouri