The Relationship Between Social Connectedness and Perceptions of Discrimination Among Papuan Students in Jakarta
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Papuan university students studying in Jakarta face the demands of adjusting to a different social and cultural environment, as well as the possibility of experiencing treatment perceived as discriminatory. Under these circumstances, social connectedness is important because it relates to feelings of acceptance, interpersonal closeness, and belonging within a social environment. This study aimed to examine the relationship between social connectedness and perceived discrimination among Papuan university students in Jakarta. This study employed a quantitative method with a descriptive correlational approach. The participants were 382 Papuan university students studying in Jakarta who were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised and the Everyday Discrimination Scale. The data were analyzed using Spearman’s rank-order correlation, the Mann–Whitney U test, and the Kruskal–Wallis test. The results revealed a significant negative relationship between social connectedness and perceived discrimination (rₛ = −.469, p < .001), with a moderate correlation strength. This finding indicates that higher social connectedness among Papuan university students was associated with lower reported perceived discrimination. Conversely, lower social connectedness was associated with higher perceived discrimination.
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