• Nunn, L. M. (2021). College belonging: How first-year and first-gen students navigate campus life. Rutgers University Press.
  This research challenges the standard “get out there!” advice given to students, arguing that institutions often fundamentally misunderstand how a sense of belonging is actually formed.
• Murthy, V. H. (2020). Together: The healing power of human connection in a sometimes lonely world. Harper Wave.
  Former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy explores the growing loneliness crisis to help readers understand human connection as a vital medical necessity.
• Guerin, A., & McMenamin, T. (Eds.). (2021). Belonging: Rethinking inclusive practices to support well-being and identity. Routledge.
  This collection examines issues related to inclusive education and belonging across a range of contexts from early childhood to tertiary education.

Current systematic reviews and studies (2023-25) on the impact of social support and specific student populations.

• Zhao, G. X., Zhao, M. Y., Bean, C. R., Robbins, A. S., & Mahrer, N. E. (2025). Well-being interventions in U.S. colleges: A scoping review from a positive higher education perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1601955.
  This scoping review provides a comprehensive look at the efficacy and outcomes of current well-being interventions in American higher education institutions.
• Li, R., Norlizah, C. H., Qiuxia, Z., Sha, O., & Jingyi, D. (2025). A systematic review on the impact of social support on college students’ wellbeing and mental health. PLoS One, 20(7), 21.
  This study analyzes how peer and institutional social support networks correlate directly with student mental health outcomes.
• Howard, A. H., Gwenzi, G. D., Newsom, L., Gebru, B. T., & Wilke, N. G. (2023). The relationship between sense of belonging and well-being outcomes in emerging adults with care experience. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(13), 6311.
  Researchers explore the unique challenges faced by students from foster or residential care backgrounds who often lack the social resources necessary for a successful transition.
• Morris, C. (2021). “Peering through the window looking in”: Postgraduate experiences of non-belonging and belonging in relation to mental health and wellbeing. Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education.
  This article investigates how mental health is impacted by the feeling of being an outsider in university life.
• Winstone, N., Balloo, K., Gravett, K., Jacobs, D., & Keen, H. (2022). Who stands to benefit? Wellbeing, belonging and challenges to equality in engagement in extra-curricular activities at university. Active Learning in Higher Education.
  This study explores who actually stands to benefit from campus engagement and the barriers that prevent equal participation.

Accessible, conversational discussions on identity, therapy and workplace culture.

• Brown, R., & Stewart, A. (Hosts). (2022, March). Belonging in the workplace (No. 42). In Changing the Conversation. C4 Innovations.
  Ronitia Hodges and Ashley Stewart discuss the specific benefits of fostering an authentic and supportive environment in the workplace.
• Imagine Belonging at Work. (n.d.). Imagine belonging at work podcast. Apple Podcasts.
  This series offers practical strategies and visionary ideas for creating supportive and psychologically safe professional environments.
• Between Sessions. (n.d.). Between sessions podcast. Apple Podcasts.
  These conversations feature therapists working to change the face of therapy and mental health for people of color.
• Mental Health Mamas. (n.d.). Finding a sense of belonging when we struggle to fit in. Podcast.
  This episode focuses on the internal struggle of finding a sense of belonging when an individual feels they do not naturally “fit in” to traditional spaces.

Expert speakers providing practical frameworks for cultural shifts.

• Allen, K.-A. (2023, December). The (not quite) psychology of belonging (Video). Happiness & Its Causes Conference.
  Dr. Kelly-Ann Allen discusses the complex nuances of social connection and why belonging is more than just a psychological state.
• Palenshus, J. (2021, April). Creating a culture of wellbeing (Video). TED Conferences.
  Juliete Palenshus describes how to move from a system of “sickness exploitation” toward a culture of community healing and authentic relationships.
• Prochnow, T. (2022, March 29). Why social connections matter to your health (Video). Texas A&M School of Education and Human Development.
  Dr. Tyler Prochnow describes the significant impact that social network structures have on physical and mental health outcomes.
• Puddicombe, A. (2012, May). All it takes is 10 mindful minutes (Video). TED Conferences.
  Andy Puddicombe explains how taking just ten minutes a day to live in the present can prevent the feeling of overwhelming stress.

Actionable tools for managers and school leaders.

• Manns, K. (n.d.). How managers create a culture of belonging (Online course). LinkedIn Learning.
  Instructor Kimberly Manns helps leaders create belonging for themselves and others using the “Head, Heard, Hands” framework.
• Riley, K. (2018). Research on schools as places of belonging (Audio). UCL Institute of Education.
  Professor Kathryn Riley explains the “prism of belonging” and the critical importance of school leadership in creating a welcoming environment.
• Hopke, T. (2023, September 29). The overlooked link between belonging & workplace wellbeing. Forbes.
  This article highlights research showing that when individuals feel a sense of belonging at work, there is a 56 percent increase in job performance.