What Matters Most for Community Social Capital among Older Adults Living in Urban China: The Role of Health and Family Social Capital.

Jingyue Zhang,Nan Lu

doi:10.3390/ijerph16040558

Abstract

The present study investigated individual-level determinants of community social capital among older adults in urban China, with a particular emphasis on health and family social capital. A quota sampling method was used to select 456 adults aged 60 or older from 16 local communities in the city of Suzhou in 2015. Multiple indicators and multiple courses in structural equation modeling were used to examine the proposed model. Latent constructs of community social capital (i.e., cognitive social capital and structural social capital) were established. The results showed that family social capital and instrumental activities of daily living were the most influential determinants of cognitive social capital, whereas activities of daily living and socioeconomic status were the most important determinants of structural social capital. We demonstrate the application of social capital theory in an urban Chinese context. Future policy development and social work interventions should use a more comprehensive social capital latent constructs and health indicators as screening instruments. The promotion of family social capital could play an important role in enhancing cognitive social capital among older adults.

Highlights

Social capital is an important social determinant of well-being among older populations across countries and cultures
We used a Multiple indicators and multiple courses (MIMIC) model to examine the effects of various determinants on cognitive and structural social capital
The model fit indices indicated that the model adequately fit the data (RMSEA = 0.000, comparative fit index (CFI) = 1.000, Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 1.000, weighted root mean square residual (WRMR) = 0.656)

Summary

Introduction

Social capital is an important social determinant of well-being among older populations across countries and cultures. Studies on the determinants of social capital among older populations are limited. Many studies have controlled for a range of sociodemographic variables (e.g., age, gender, marital status, education) when testing the relationship between social capital and health [2,6]. There is a lack of research that can explain the associations between these variables and social capital. The findings of such studies would enhance the understanding of what matters for social capital, and would have important implications for policy and interventions aimed at improving the health of older populations through promoting social capital

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion