The effect of social capital on mental health of citizens (Case Study: Mashhad)

Abstract

Introduction: Among the factors effective in determining the mental health of individuals, cultural factors and different social contexts are the most important ones. One of the factors that, if recognized, can have a role on the quality of mental health among the citizens and is considered to be a missing link in mental health is social capital Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between social capital and mental health among over 20 year old citizens of Mashhad city in 1394. Material and Methods: The method of this research was based on survey or measurement subjected to correlative type. The statistical population was the citizens over 20 years old and the number of participants was 1741521 in Mashhad in 1394 (2015). The sample were consisted of 300 subjects which selected using Cochran formula. Data were obtained through Urban HEART questionnaire for social capital and standard SCL-90 questionnaire for mental health. Data were collected using multi-stage quotas sampling and analyzed by applying SPSS. Results: In this study, all 300 adults were investigated. Of this number, 201 (67%) were and 99 (33%) were males and females, respectively. They were between 21-83 years old and most of them, (189 (63%)) were over 45 years old. there was a positive relationship between mental health and individual trust, correlation, social support and social investment (0.001), variables such as living in newly- made places (0.021), getting access to parks and open areas (0.003), age (0.011) and getting access to health centers (0.012) while there was no significant relationship between mental health and social trust , collective relations and also other variables such as household, gender, occupation, nationality and place of birth. Conclusion: These findings suggested that as more social capital exist among citizens, mental health is expected to be higher. Due to this fact that more healthy citizens are more participant in city; Achieve to healthy and sustainable cities are more likely to be realized.