<![CDATA[Traditional music depends on continuing participation, yet identification with a cultural community and pride in its heritage may relate differently to young people’s involvement. This study distinguishes cultural belonging from heritage pride and examines their associations with behavioral participation among youth in Poso Regency, Indonesia. A cross-sectional survey dataset contained 180 respondents aged 18–30 years, with recorded survey dates from February to June 2026. Cultural belonging and heritage pride were measured using six items each, while participation was represented by eight frequency items referring to the preceding 12 months. Spearman correlations and ordinal logistic regression were calculated from item-level responses. Cultural belonging and heritage pride correlated positively with participation (ρ = .530 and .460, respectively; both p < .001). After adjustment for age, the female indicator, and coded location, a one-point increase in the mean belonging score was associated with higher participation odds of 2.62 (95% confidence interval 1.76–3.91); the corresponding odds ratio for pride was 2.13 (1.41–3.22). The proportional-odds restriction was not rejected, and supplementary analyses retained both associations. A standardized comparison did not establish a difference between their coefficients. The findings support treating belonging and pride as complementary correlates of traditional music participation. Community initiatives may combine opportunities for social inclusion with engagement in cultural knowledge and performance, while longitudinal research is needed to assess directionality and program effects.]]>
