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

BackgroundA 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