From belongingness to reduced loneliness: the roles of participation intensity and self-esteem in ACG communities

Background A sense of belonging is widely recognized as a fundamental human need and a key factor in psychological adjustment, particularly during adolescence and emerging adulthood. With the rapid development of digital media, online interest-based communities, such as anime, comic, and game (ACG) communities, have become important social environments where young individuals engage in social interaction, identity expression, and emotional exchange. However, the mechanisms through which perceived belongingness in such communities relates to loneliness remain insufficiently explored. Methods This study employed a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based design to examine the relationships among perceived belongingness in ACG communities, participation intensity, self-esteem, and loneliness. A total of 300 adolescents and young adults participated in the study. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis and serial mediation modeling with bootstrapping procedures. Results The results indicated that stronger perceived belongingness in ACG communities was significantly associated with lower levels of loneliness. Participation intensity and self-esteem both played significant mediating roles in this relationship. Specifically, belongingness was positively associated with participation intensity and self-esteem, which in turn were negatively related to loneliness, forming a significant serial mediation pathway. Conclusion The findings suggest that ACG communities may function as meaningful social environments that support psychological wellbeing by enhancing individuals’ sense of belonging and self-worth. This study contributes to the literature by providing an integrated framework linking belongingness, behavioral engagement, and intrapersonal processes to loneliness among adolescents and young adults.