In a seminal 1986 study, McMillan and Chavis identify four elements of "sense of community":

1. membership,

2. influence,

3. integration and fulfillment of needs,

4. shared emotional connection.

McMillan & Chavis (1986) define sense of community as "a feeling that members have of belonging, a feeling that members matter to one another and to the group, and a shared faith that members' needs will be met through their commitment to be together."

McMillan, D.W., & Chavis, D.M. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14(1), 6-23.