Evidências de validade do Belongingness Questionnaire para uso no Brasil: ampliando possibilidades de investigação científica sobre pertencimento universitário

Abstract

In the field of Psychology, belongingness can be recognized as a fundamental human need and/or a relational perception, representing in both cases a vital construct for human existence and for experiences within different social systems. Among these contexts, the university environment stands out, where belongingness is related to adaptation, well-being, and academic persistence. This dissertation aimed to adapt and provide validity evidence for the College Belongingness Questionnaire (CBQ) in the Brazilian university context. Following the International Test Commission (2017) guidelines, the study was conducted in three stages: (a) translation and cross-cultural adaptation; (b) analysis of internal structure; and (c) examination of relations with an external measure. Participants were 145 undergraduate students from public and private institutions in the state of Pará, Brazil. Analyses indicated excellent content validity indices (CVI = 1.00; Kappa = 1.00), good fit of the bifactorial model of social acceptance and exclusion (χ²/df = 0.95; CFI = 1.00; RMSEA = 0.000), and satisfactory internal consistency (α and ω ≥ 0.75). Correlations between belongingness and negative affectivity supported theoretical expectations, showing belongingness as a protective factor for mental health. The Brazilian version of the CBQ demonstrated solid psychometric evidence and constitutes a valid and reliable tool for assessing belongingness in higher education.