A community can be characterized by which of the following features?

• A. Membership, common symbol systems, shared values and norms, mutual influence, shared needs and commitment to meeting them, shared emotional connection
• B. Population size alone
• C. Health status of individuals within the group
• D. Access to primary care only

Answer: (A)

A community is defined by its social fabric—the ways people identify with a group, communicate, and work together toward shared goals. When membership is present, along with common symbol systems, values, and norms, members feel connected and influence one another, creating a sense of belonging and mutual commitment to meeting shared needs. This emotional connection enables collective action, resource sharing, and sustained health-related efforts within the group. Population size, health status of individuals, or access to care alone don’t establish that social cohesion and coordinated capacity; they’re just characteristics or resources, not the defining fabric of the community. That combination of belonging, shared meaning, mutual influence, and shared purposes best characterizes a community.