The association between social capital and quality of life in old adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundAs Korea rapidly transforms into a super-aged society, research indicates that digital literacy among older adults enhances their life satisfaction. Digital literacy refers to the ability to efficiently use digital technologies, encompassing access, competency, and utilization. It reflects the capacity to navigate and benefit from digital environments effectively. Furthermore, social capital positively influences the quality of life, and digital literacy facilitates social capital formation. However, since most studies have only focused on the direct relationship between digital literacy and life satisfaction, research on the mediating role of social capital remains limited.ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of digital literacy on the life satisfaction of older adults in South Korea and to verify whether social capital acts as a mediating factor in this process.MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study used data from the 2023 Report on the Digital Divide—an annual survey conducted by the Korean Ministry of Science and Information and Communications Technology. The study targeted individuals aged 65 years or older. Descriptive statistics, the Pearson correlation analyses, and the 3-step multiple regression analysis proposed by Baron and Kenny were performed. The bootstrap method was employed, and all analyses were conducted using R, version 4.4.1.ResultsThe study included 869 participants. Digital literacy had a significant positive effect on their life satisfaction (β=0.103; P=.008). Social capital was also positively associated with life satisfaction (β=0.337; P<.001). Mediation analysis showed that digital literacy influenced life satisfaction both directly (β=0.103; P=.006) and indirectly through social capital (β=0.037; P=.03). Bootstrapping confirmed the significance of the indirect effect (β=0.037, 95% CI 0.005‐0.070; P=.03). The total effect of digital literacy on life satisfaction was also significant (β=0.140, 95% CI 0.058‐0.230; P=.002).ConclusionsThis study analyzed the association between digital literacy, social capital, and life satisfaction among older adults in Korea. We identified that social capital mediates the association between digital literacy and life satisfaction among older adults. These findings indicate that tailored digital literacy programs and support policies that promote social capital formation could help bridge the digital divide and foster social inclusion. These measures would enable older adults to access essential services, reduce social isolation, and enhance health and well-being, ultimately improving the overall quality of life.

The advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the spread of infectious diseases have increased people’s reliance on information and communication technology (ICT). However, older adults are the most marginalized group affected by ICT, and their activities and daily life have become more difficult than ever during the pandemic. Based on the theory of the TAM, this study analyzed the effect of ICT use on life satisfaction among older adults during the pandemic, and examined the mediating role of social capital. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to test the relationships among ICT use, social capital, and life satisfaction, and the Sobel test was used to test the mediating effect and statistical significance of social capital. The results of the analysis confirmed the positive effects of technology’s perceived usefulness and self-efficacy on attitudes and ICT use among older adults. ICT use had a positive effect on life satisfaction. In addition, it was found that social capital had a mediating effect on the relationship between ICT use and life satisfaction. During the pandemic, ICT use not only had a direct effect on life satisfaction but also had an indirect effect through social capital among older adults. The results of this study have implications for research on ICT use and life satisfaction among older adults, and have implications for formulating public policies for active aging. The results of this study can facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the antecedents and consequential factors of the use of digital information among older adults, which not only complements previous studies but also provides a theoretical basis for systematic research on digital literacy and well-being in older adults.

اهداف: کیفیت زندگی، مفهومی پیچیده و چندبعدی است که تحت تأثیر مولفه هایی چون زمان و مکان، ارزش‌های فردی و اجتماعی از سوی متفکران علوم شهری و سایر اندیشمندان علوم مختلف مطرح و مورد پژوهش قرار گرفته است. تحقیق حاضر با هدف بررسی شاخص‌های کیفیت زندگی و سنجش آن در شهر مرکزی زرین دشت (حاجی‌آباد) بر مبنای 4 گروه شاخص‌های اقتصادی، اجتماعی، خدماتی و کالبدی صورت گرفته است. روش: روش تحقیق، در این مقاله توصیفی- تحلیلی و ابزار آن پرسش‌نامه می‌باشد. روایی پرسش‌نامه با استفاده از نظرات متخصصان و پایایی آن با استفاده از محاسبه آلفای کرونباخ (72%) تعیین شد. جامعۀ آماری در این پژوهش7 محله از شهر حاجی‌آباد (20000نفر) می‌باشد که با استفاده از فرمول کوکران 377 نمونه انتخاب گردید و به‌صورت تصادفی در هر محله پرسش‌نامه توزیع شد. تجزیه و تحلیل پرسش‌نامه با استفاده ازآمار توصیفی، همبستگی و رگرسیون چندگانۀ خطی انجام شد و در نهایت از روش آنتروپی شانون جهت وزن‌دهی شاخص‌ها و تکنیک پرومتی جهت رتبه‌بندی محلات به‌کار گرفته شد. یافته‌ها/نتایج: یافته‌های پژوهش نشان داد که در شهر حاجی‌آباد، محلۀ فرهنگیان بالاترین سطح کیفیت زندگی شهری و محلۀ حسین‌آباد، پایین‌ترین سطح کیفیت را در بین محلات دارد. همچنین در بررسی ابعاد چهارگانۀ شاخص کیفیت زندگی همبستگی مستقیم و معناداری وجود داشته و هر یک از این ابعاد همبستگی معناداری با رضایتمندی نهایی از کیفیت زندگی دارند و از بین شاخص‌های کیفیت زندگی، شاخص اقتصادی بیشترین تأثیر را در کیفیت محلات دارد.

Association between social capital and quality of life in older adults with subjective cognitive decline: A cross-sectional study

The present research examines the relationship between psychological capital and quality of life (QOL), with (and without) mediation of social capital (SC) and quality of work life (QWL). The research statistical population includes employees of a chosen state organisation. The collected data through the questionnaire were used in the structural equation modelling for test of the research hypotheses and the assumed relationships between the variables. Validity of the questionnaires was examined and verified consulting the university professors and experts, and the questionnaires' reliability was determined by calculating their Cronbach's alpha, that, indicating adequate reliability of them. According to the results, PsyCap had a positive effect on QOL, SC and QWL. In addition, SC positively influenced employee's quality of work life and QOL in the understudy organisation. Finally, the variables SC and quality of work life significantly mediated in the relationship between PsyCap and QOL. All these relationships were significant at 95% confidence interval.

This article is an empirical analysis of the relationship between social capital and satisfaction and quality of life in the workplace in Spain. Social capital has been defined as the set of cooperative relationships between social actors that facilitate collective action. This concept has been measured based on five dimensions: trust, social relations, commitment, communication and influence. An analysis has been carried out applying regression and causal models to determine the influence on satisfaction and quality of life at work of social capital dimensions and of characteristics of the worker, work environment and company or organization. The data is based on Spain's 2001 Quality of Life at Work Survey. The results of the analysis indicate that the models applied are significant, which confirms the examined propositions. Higher levels of social capital imply greater levels of satisfaction and quality of life at work. Social capital is a better predictor of quality of life at work and job satisfaction than the characteristics of the worker, the company or organization, and the work environment.

Background: The quality of elderly people’s life is one of the challenges of the 21th century. Therefore, determining factors that affect quality of life in elderly people is important. This study was designed to establish a life quality model among elderly.&#x0D; Methods: In this study, a quality of life model was designed based on cognitive status and social capital with the mediating role of resilience among older adults. For this reason, 243 subjects over 60 years old living in Tehran were chosen through convenient sampling d in 2020-2021. The specified information was collected utilizing the World Health Organization Quality of Life (QOL) questionnaire to determine the quality of life, Onyx and Bullen’s social capital scale to assess the social capital, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) to evaluate the cognitive impairment and Connor-Davidson resilience scale to assess the level of resilience. The obtained data were statistically analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS software v24.&#x0D; Results: Results showed a significant positive relationship between cognitive status and quality of life (β=0.474, p&lt;0.01), between social capital and quality of life (β=0.245, p&lt;0.01), and also between resilience and quality of life (β=0.400, p&lt;0.01) among subjects. Results also confirmed the mediating role of resilience in the relationship among cognitive status, social capital, and quality of life (β=0.102, p&lt;0.01 &amp; β=0.170, p&lt;0.01).&#x0D; Conclusion: For the promotion of quality of life among subjects, certain interventions must be designed by policy makers to improve social capital, cognitive status, and resilience.

Thailand is one of the most aging countries in Southeast Asia. While family support for Thai older adults is dominant, mutual support in communities is needed in response to the demographic shifts. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of individual social capital on health-related quality of life (QOL) as a health outcome of older adults living in rural Thai communities. The questionnaire comprised the following: general characteristics, the Shortened and Adapted Social Capital Assessment Tool (SASCAT) and other items of social capital, the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), and life satisfaction. We collected data from 202 older adults who participated in elderly clubs. After controlling for confounding effects, logistic regression analysis revealed that less group membership and more support from individuals were significantly associated with better physical QOL. Feeling safe in the community was significantly associated with mental QOL. However, other components of SASCAT, such as citizenship activities and cognitive social capital, had no significant associations. This study suggests that health-related QOL of Thai older adults may be improved by increasing mutual support of community members and perceived neighborhood safety through feeling supported by a community. However, it should be noted that multiple active memberships may adversely affect the health of older adults in Thailand.

Subjective life satisfaction and objective functional outcome in bipolar and unipolar mood disorders: A longitudinal analysis

To explore the association between community engagement and life satisfaction amongst older adults, with a focus on the mediating effect of social capital and the moderating effects of gender and age. This study used structural equation modelling to analyse data from a sample of 1036 older adults in Chengdu, China, examining both the direct and indirect effects of community engagement on life satisfaction through social capital, and whether the relations moderated by gender and age. Model fit was evaluated using χ2, Comparative Fit Index, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation and Standardised Root Mean Square Residual to ensure the validity of the proposed relationships. The findings indicated a significant positive relationship between community engagement and social capital (β = .54) as well as between social capital and life satisfaction (β = .28). Social capital fully mediated the association between community engagement and life satisfaction. Moderation analysis revealed that the effects of community engagement and social capital on life satisfaction were stronger amongst older males (β = .57 and .32) than older females (β = .52 and .26). This study highlights the significant role of community engagement in enhancing social capital and life satisfaction amongst older adults in China, particularly for males and individuals aged 70 years or older. Findings indicate that policymakers should prioritise the development and implementation of community engagement programs specifically designed to support older men and individuals aged 70 years or older. It underscores the importance of culturally specific strategies for promoting active ageing in China.

ObjectivesFew studies have investigated the association between social capital and quality of life (QoL) among stroke patients. To address this research gap, we aimed to explore the association between social capital and QoL among stroke patients in Anhui Province, China.Study designCross-sectional study.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. The following data including demographic characteristics, health-related conditions, five dimensions of social capital status, and quality of life (QoL) were collected using a questionnaire. Generalized linear models were then used to determine the relationship between social capital and QoL after adjusting for confounding factors.ResultsA total of 390 participants were included for the final analysis in this study. Our results indicated that subjects with higher social capital including social connection (coefficient: 28.28, 95% CI: 19.39–37.16), social support (coefficient: 21.17, 95% CI: 10.63–31.71), trust (coefficient: 13.46, 95% CI: 2.73–24.19), reciprocity (coefficient: 25.56, 95% CI: 15.97–35.15), and cohesion (coefficient: 19.30, 95% CI: 9.90–28.70) had increased odds of reporting poor QoL when compared with lower social capital group. We also observed that the association between social capital and QoL varied across cities.ConclusionsOur findings show that social capital is associated with QoL in adult stroke patients, suggesting that social capital may be significant for enhancing QoL among adults with stroke.

LIVING WELL WITH DEMENTIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background and Aim: Religious adherence or being religious refers to the degree of belief or adherence to the beliefs and practices of a systematic religion. Satisfaction with life indicates the satisfaction of basic human desires and needs. This research seeks to investigate the relationship between religious adherence and social capital with life satisfaction. Method: This research aims to be an applied and descriptive survey of the correlation type. The population under study is the citizens of Shahreza city between 18 and 50 years old, and 384 citizens of Shahreza were selected as the statistical sample of the study by random cluster sampling method. The research tool includes a questionnaire made by the researcher (adapted from the religiosity questionnaire of Jan Bozorgi (2018), the social capital questionnaire of Pantam (1999) and the quality of life satisfaction and enjoyment questionnaire of Endikt et al. (1993)). After collecting the data, they were analyzed using SPSS and Smart PLS statistical software, and in this regard, regression analysis and structural equation modeling were used to test the hypotheses. Results: The results of the statistical analysis of the data showed that there is a significant and moderate direct relationship between the subscale of religious adherence and life satisfaction (r=0.478, p&lt;0.01). Also, there is an indirect relationship between religious ambivalence and life satisfaction (r=0.262, p&lt;0.01) and an indirect relationship has been shown between religious non-commitment and life satisfaction (r=0.298, p&lt;0.01). Finally, the results of the regression analysis indicate that life satisfaction is affected by religious adherence (β=0.038, p&lt;0.01) and social capital (β=0.377, p&lt;0.01), but the degree of influence of religious adherence is very small and capital Social has had a stronger relationship with life satisfaction. Conclusion: Based on the findings, there is a direct and meaningful relationship between the overall score of social capital and life satisfaction. There is a lot of evidence that social capital has a positive effect on various aspects of people's quality of life. Improving the level of social capital can ultimately lead to quality of life and well-being.

Engagement with health care providers as a mediator between social capital and quality of life among a sample of people living with HIV in the United States: Path-analysis

Background and Objectives: The quality of life (QoL) of the elderly can be declined by several factors. Social capital is one of the effective factors for improving the QoL. This study aims to determine the relationship between social capital and QoL in the elderly hospitalized due to traumatic events. Methods: This is a descriptive-correlational study. The study population consists of all older patients aged 65 years and higher admitted to selected hospitals in Qom, Iran from September 2019 to September 2020 due to experiencing traumatic events. of these, 330 were selected using a non-probability sequential sampling method. Data collection tools were Onyx and Bullen’s social capital questionnaire, the Leiden-Padua quality of life questionnaire, and a demographic checklist. Data were analyzed in SPSS v. 26 software using descriptive statistics and statistical tests including Spearman correlation test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and multivariate regression analysis. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 70±4.6 years; 49% were male and 51% were female. The mean scores of social capital and quality of life were 67.6±13.5 and 51.6±17.4, respectively. A positive and significant correlation was observed between social capital and quality of life (r=0.719, P&lt;0.05). Social capital had a significant relationship with marital status (P=0.000), place of residence (P=0.001), insurance coverage (P=0.000) and level of education (P=0.000). Conclusion: Social capital has a relationship with the quality of life in the elderly experiencing traumatic events. For successful aging and to anticipate its prerequisites, the strengthening and improvement of social capital is important.