Generating Identity Capital from Family Capital and Personal Agency: A Mediation Analysis

Abstract

This study focused on the mechanism in which family capital—human capital, financial capital, and social capital—could be mobilized in the creation of the identity capital of young people during their transition to adulthood. A total of 1153 participants in Shanghai, China, (mean age = 20.90, SD = 1.44) completed a standardized questionnaire. The study found that young people in this sample generally had a moderate level of identity capital. A higher level of family social capital was associated with a higher level of identity capital, and was the strongest predictor among all the predictor variables. Family social capital also played a significant role in mediating the effects of family human capital and financial capital on the identity capital of young people. Family human capital predicted an increased identity capital, both directly and indirectly, through its positive effects on family social capital, whereas family financial capital only showed an indirect effect on identity capital. Unexpectedly, of the three forms of family capital, only social capital was positively associated with self-efficacy. This suggested that family human capital and financial capital can be translated into self-efficacy only through the mediation of family social capital. Ultimately, the mediation model was established. Implications of these present findings for theory, practice, and policy were discussed.