Enhancement Of Social Capital Research Articles

The mitigating role of social capital on the association between food insecurity and psychological distress among Chinese adults.

Food insecurity, a pervasive global issue exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been linked to adverse mental health outcomes. However, the role of social capital in mitigating this relationship remains understudied, particularly in the Chinese context. This study investigated the associations between food insecurity and psychological distress (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and examined the potential moderating effects of bonding and bridging social capital among Chinese adults in Shanghai. This cross-sectional study included 3,220 Chinese adults (mean age: 34.45; 51.5% male) in Shanghai. Food insecurity was assessed using the modified Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, psychological distress was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and social capital was evaluated using the Revised Personal Social Capital Scale. Multivariable linear regression analyses revealed that food insecurity was significantly positively associated with both depressive (β = 0.449, SE = 0.024) and anxiety symptoms (β = 0.391, SE = 0.022), after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and COVID-19-related factors. Higher levels of bonding and bridging social capital were significantly associated with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms. Significant interactions (p < .001) between bonding social capital and food insecurity indicated that the associations between food insecurity and psychological distress were less pronounced among adults with higher bonding social capital. These findings highlight the critical role of food insecurity as a risk factor for psychological distress and the importance of bonding social capital in mitigating its impact on mental health. Policies and interventions targeting food insecurity prevention and bonding social capital enhancement may promote better mental health outcomes among Chinese adults.

Understanding the perceived conservation benefits of shark-marine tourism in the Global South

Shark and ray populations are declining due to the expansion of both target and non-target fisheries. Shark-marine tourism (SMT) has been advocated as a conservation approach to reduce pressure on shark populations by increasing their non-consumptive value and providing a potential livelihood option. However, diversification via tourism can create complex issues relating to the environment, policy, and local well-being. Additionally, little is known about the ecological or socio-economic effectiveness of shark-based marine tourism operations. This study explores how SMT programs may contribute to shark conservation by exploring practitioner perceptions of SMT and (a) its desired outcomes, success, and factors facilitating success; (b) how those outcomes were measured; (c) its effectiveness as a conservation tool; and (d) how alternative livelihoods or social engagement programs supported positive conservation gains. Semi-structured interviews (n = 15) were conducted with tourism operators and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff. NGOs measured success through population/impact studies or economic valuations of tourism, while operators cited conservation gains or skills training as success indicators. Project effectiveness was either unmeasured or inactively pursued due to insufficient capacity or resources. Tourism effectiveness is perceived to be highly dependent upon the local contexts and increases with active stakeholder engagement. Social and human capital enhancement was viewed as an important mechanism to increase tourism’s benefits beyond species protection. This study demonstrates that conservation requires a shift from a species-focus to one that engages effectively with those reliant on elasmobranch resources. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of SMT to generate innovative opportunities for improving elasmobranch conservation.

Empowering Undocumented Indonesian Migrant Workers in Sarawak through Social Capital Enhancement

Empowering Undocumented Indonesian Migrant Workers in Sarawak through Social Capital Enhancement

Strengthening Democracy and Market Economies through Social Capital Building in Developing Countries

In developing countries, it is imperative to actively pursue the enhancement of social capital in order to fortify both democratic systems and market economies. Even when other conditions remain constant, countries with high social capital have more efficient economies and better social welfare. Additionally, in the context of globalization, with the growth of network capitalism, it is evident that social capital is being formed in impoverished emerging nations.

Community disaster resilience in Brazilian small urban centers

Brazilian small urban centers are facing several disasters impacts due to their singular environmental, economic, and social characteristics. A comprehensive approach encompassing multiple dimensions of resilience and adaptation is essential to minimize material and human losses. This article analyzes the community disaster resilience of 213 small urban centers in the Brazilian Southeast region, affected by recurrent events, such as floods, flash floods, and landslides. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach. First, a quantitative analysis was conducted at the municipal level using statistical techniques to develop a community disaster resilience index, incorporating social, economic, infrastructure, institutional, and community dimensions. Simultaneously, a qualitative assessment evaluated the levels of social capital at the intra-municipal scale among populations affected by disasters through an online questionnaire. The results demonstrated a direct correlation between community disaster resilience levels and the economic and urban development of the assessed municipalities. Lower levels of community disaster resilience were associated with higher vulnerability of the population, characterized by limited socioeconomic development, inadequate housing conditions, insufficient urban infrastructure for transportation, healthcare, leisure, and social support services, and ineffective implementation of public development policies. Moreover, the absence and limited diversity of leisure spaces that foster social connections contributed to reduced community engagement and participation, resulting in lower levels of social capital. This study underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to enhance community resilience in small urban centers facing recurrent disasters. The findings provide insights for policymakers and practitioners to prioritize interventions and investments in economic development, infrastructure improvement, and social capital enhancement as crucial elements of disaster risk reduction and resilience-building efforts.

Intellectual capital, social capital components and internal control weaknesses: evidence from Iran’s business environment

PurposeThis paper aims to determine whether there is a relationship between intellectual capital and social capital and internal control weaknesses and assess the relationship between the variables of intellectual capital and social capital and internal control weaknesses.Design/methodology/approachThe statistical population consists of 1,309 firm-year observations from 2014 to 2020. The research hypothesis is tested using statistical methods, including multivariate, least-squares and fixed-effects regression.FindingsThe results demonstrate a negative and significant relationship between intellectual capital, social capital and internal control weaknesses. The study also finds that increased intellectual and social capital quality improves human resource utilization, control mechanism, creativity and firm performance. The results also show that intellectual capital and social capital enhancement will reduce internal control weaknesses in the upcoming years.Originality/valueThis paper is the pioneer study on the relationship between intellectual capital and social capital and internal control weaknesses in Iran, carried out separately and in exploratory factor analysis. This paper considers intellectual capital components for theoretical factor analysis, including human capital, structural capital and customer capital. Internal control weakness is assessed based on financial, non-financial and information technology (IT) weaknesses.

From the Cyclone Idai disaster to the COVID-19 pandemic: An account of inadvertent social capital enhancement in Eastern Chimanimani, Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe suffered a devastating meteorological disaster when Cyclone Idai affected the southeast part of the country in March 2019. Barely a year after the cyclonic event, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic emerged, leading to the declaration of a nationwide lockdown that paralysed socio-economic systems. This article examines how social capital was autonomously cultivated and eventually utilised by the Cyclone Idai disaster survivors in Eastern Chimanimani to face the fresh socio-economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, a qualitative method embedded in a case study design was used. Data was collected using 30 purposively selected key respondents who interacted with victim communities from March to July 2020. A thematic content analysis approach was applied to obtain opinion patterns and subsequent inferences. The study results revealed a lack of immediate external disaster intervention during the Cyclone Idai disaster in Chimanimani. Accordingly, a strong sense of collective action developed between victim communities, thus enabling them to perform hasty operations meant to salvage lives and property. The enhanced social capital helped the Cyclone Idai victims to face the new COVID-19 lockdown challenges. This article recommends pro-active and well-coordinated government and private sector disaster response strategies supporting local area initiatives to minimise loss of lives and property during disaster situations.

Can weak ties create social capital? Evidence from Self-Help Groups in rural India

• Can membership of self-help groups (SHGs), designed for enhancing livelihoods, create social capital for women? • We find that it can, even when the livelihoods are negligible. • Membership of SHGs increases personal efficacy and propensity for collective action. • Social capital generated by SHG membership is a significant positive impact as it strengthens the process of women’s empowerment. The “strength of weak ties” has been established in the context of labour market outcomes, with theoretical and empirical investigation showing how weak ties lead to an increase in mobility and job opportunities. The impact of weak ties on community organisation is less well understood. We contribute to this literature by investigating if weak ties, generated via membership of livelihood programmes, can lead to the creation or enhancement of social capital. Based on data from one of the largest independent primary surveys for India, we find that participation in self-help groups had little impact on livelihoods, but led to the creation of significant social capital, as measured by indicators related to personal efficacy and collective action. We use Entropy Balancing to estimate mean effects to tackle the problem of non-random selection into the programme. In contrast to the bulk of existing evidence on livelihood programmes that is based on small samples, our large sample size and innovative survey design allow us to detect a larger number of effects with greater certainty. We argue that the social capital generated by the programme is a significant positive impact (even though the main target of the programme is to strengthen livelihoods), as it strengthens the process of women’s empowerment.

Associations Between Social Capital and HIV Risk-Taking Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Japan.

Social capital has been positively associated with reduced HIV risk. However, few studies have investigated if associations vary between men who have sex with men (MSM) or heterosexual alters (possessors of actual resources embedded within social capital networks) and HIV risk-taking behaviors. In a cross-sectional survey of 1564 MSM in Greater Tokyo, we investigated whether social capital ascertained from MSM or heterosexual alters influenced HIV risk-taking behaviors (i.e., consistent condom use and lifetime HIV testing). Multiple logistic regression revealed that MSM with high levels of social capital from heterosexual networks were twice as likely to report consistent condom use with casual male partners, while MSM who reported high levels of social capital from MSM networks were over twice as likely to have tested for HIV yet were half as likely to use condoms consistently with regular male partners. Associations between MSM, social capital, and HIV testing indicate the potential for integrating social capital enhancement programs into current HIV interventions.

People, place, and space: Theoretical and empirical reflections in studying urban open space

People, place, and space are the main domain of spatial research which is widely discussed in the geographic discipline. Geographers always focus on the meanings related to space and human interactions to explain people, place, and space. The concept was explained by Richard Harsthrone (1959), Fred E Lukermann (1964), David Harvey (1969), Henri Lefebvre (1974), Yi-fu Tuan (1974), Edward Relph (1976) and Doreen Massey (2005), etc. As a human geographer, Yi.fu Tuan has a great contribution to explain people-place relations and further explained by Relph, Massey, and other scholars. Grounding on the geographic research traditions, this paper presents the concept of people, place, and space reviewing the historiographical literatures and some empirical research studies on people-space relations. Theorists have argued that people and space are deep-rooted in studying place attachment creating people’s sense of place. People’s actions and behaviors create meaning through their individual and communal behaviors in that space where they live and interact. Moreover, theoretical perspectives argue that placemaking is always associated with the social and cultural dimensions of a society. Empirically, as an indigenous society, people from the core area of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) have been perceiving urban open space as a commonplace for social and cultural life activities whereas migrants’ people living in the newly growing settlements have been perceiving the open space as a place for recreation and social capital enhancement.

Assessing Neighborhood Satisfaction and Social Capital in a Multi-Cultural Setting of an Abu Dhabi Neighborhood

Behavioral research studies propose that urban open spaces contribute to enhance sociability in urban areas. The urban areas in the city of Abu Dhabi are less appealing to attract vibrant activity and social life. This study investigates the role of the built environment in the enhancement of neighborhood satisfaction and social capital in a residential neighborhood of Abu Dhabi. A total of 145 residents were surveyed for their perception, attitude, and behavior. Regression analyses to predict the role of the built environment of the open space, as well as the ethnicity of respondents, on measures of neighborhood satisfaction and social capital were performed. Spatial data and audit tools were used to assess the lack of suitable built-environment in the study area. Results indicate that improvements to the built environment can improve both the social capital and neighborhood satisfaction of the urban residents of Abu Dhabi. Implications of this study include recommendations to enhance the experience of urban spaces in arid regions like Abu Dhabi. Recommendations include adding landscape elements, providing a comfortable walking environment, adding attractive locations and destinations, and a clean and safe environment with attractive buildings or homes.

National and Ecological Security Contextualized in Nepal’s “Development” Pathways

The study purports to analysis the environmental security issues in Nepal and its relation with the sustainable national planning. The concerns of ecological security need visible attention at all level from the policy to local. The paper is focused on the need of conceptualizing that there is need of resilience at the level of infrastructural development and maintenance and social capital enhancement and enrichment for a community to be able to withstand a particular event or disaster. Creating a resilient community helps to ensure the kind of development the world is looking for today.

Jeje-Adang's Capital Relations in Local Election of Pangandaran Regency

The study of Jeje-Adang's capital relations in Pangandaran Regency election aims to analyze the influence of one capital to other capital ownership process which ultimately plays a role in winning political contestation. This study uses qualitative approach with descriptive method through field studies by means of interviews, documentation, and literature studies. The study results indicate a relationship between political capital, economic capital, and Jeje-Adang's social capital in local election of Pangandaran Regency. In this relation, the utilization of social capital contributes to the acquisition of Jeje-Adang's political and economic capital. Enhancement of the pair's social capital is due to the use of political capital through their involvement in politics and government and the utilization of economic capital as entrepreneurs prior to the election. Thus, the relationship between political capital, social capital, and economic capital of Jeje-Adang is contributed to their winning in Pangandaran Regency election.

Associations between personal social capital and depressive symptoms: Evidence from a probability sample of urban residents in China

Background: Rapid socioeconomic changes in China present a mental health challenge but also an opportunity to investigate the relationship between social capital and depression. Materials and methods: Participants (18–45 years old, N = 1,250) were selected using a probability sampling method. The relationship between social capital (measured using the Personal Social Capital Scale) and depression (measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory depression subscale) was examined using bivariate analysis, followed by multiple regression to control for covariates. Results: Of the total sample, 54.64% were female with mean age = 35.1 ( SD = 7.5) years old. Depression score was10.40 ( SD = 3.62) for males and 10.36 ( SD = 3.30) for females. The social capital measures (including the total, bonding and bridging) were all negatively associated with depression scores while the negative social capital was positively associated, after controlling for covariates. Subgroup analysis revealed some differences in the social capital–depression associations. Conclusion: The protective effect of social capital for mental health reported in other countries is also evident in this study. In addition, we found a positive association between negative social capital and depression. In addition to adding new knowledge, findings of this study, if verified with longitudinal design, can be used to support social and behavioral interventions in China to promote mental health by social capital enhancement.

Assessment of Climate Disaster Resilience In Dhaka City: A Case Study of Ward No. 28 of Dhaka South City Corporation

Dhaka is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, faces persistent urban environmental challenges. Environmental degradation, environmental pollution, flooding, high temperature, erratic rainfalls etc. on life and livelihoods of the city people have posed Dhaka a risky, vulnerable, unsustainable, unlivable and fragile city. In this context, this paper tries to measure resiliency through identifying Climate Disaster Resilience Index (CDRI) of ward no. 28 under the jurisdiction of Dhaka South City Corporation (Old Ward no. 64 of Dhaka City Corporation) considering five dimensions-Physical, Social, Economic, Institutional and Natural. This ward is representing the old Dhaka scenario which represents a segment of the capital of Mughal Bengal. There are some major factors under every dimension that have been considered to measure the index. By giving different weightage to different aspects finally CDRI has been measured for ward no. 28. The result shows that the overall average CDRI value for ward no. 28 is 2.65, which indicates that the natural disaster resiliency level is moderate. It also been suggested that by improving communication and accessibility, enforcing zoning and density control by the concerned Development Authority, partnership and collaboration with the people by social capital enhancement program; savings liked insurance programs; leveraging of existing strength in terms of external institutional networks, internal networks etc. can strengthen climate disaster resiliency in ward no. 28.

Uncertainty stress, social capital, and suicidal ideation among Chinese medical students: Findings from a 22-university survey.

Respective associations between uncertainty stress and three dimensions of social capital with suicidal ideation were assessed among 4446 undergraduates from 22 Chinese universities in a cross-sectional study. Multiple logistic regression model and structural equation modeling were used to examine these relationships. Uncertainty stress was more strongly and uniquely associated with suicidal ideation than with life stress. Social capital, especially social networks, shared a dual role as a correlate of suicidal ideation and means to reduce the impact of uncertainty stress. School-based gender- and age-specific suicidal ideation interventions should emphasize social capital enhancement and uncertainty stress coping.

Associations between personal social capital and depressive symptoms: Evidence from a probability sample of urban residents in China.

Rapid socioeconomic changes in China present a mental health challenge and also an opportunity to investigate the relationship between social capital and depression. Participants (18-45 years old, N = 1,250) were selected using a probability sampling method. The relationship between social capital (measured using the Personal Social Capital Scale) and depression (measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory Depression Subscale) was examined using bivariate analysis, followed by multiple regression to control for covariates. Of the total sample, 54.64% were female with mean age = 35.1 (standard deviation ( SD) = 7.5) years old. Depression score was 10.40 ( SD = 3.62) for males and 10.36 ( SD) = 3.30) for females. The social capital measures (including the total, bonding and bridging) were all negatively associated with depression scores, while the negative social capital was positively associated, after controlling for covariates. Subgroup analysis revealed some differences in the social capital-depression associations. The protective effect of social capital for mental health reported in other countries is also evident in this study. In addition, we found a positive association between negative social capital and depression. In addition to adding new knowledge, findings of this study, if verified with longitudinal design, can be used to support social and behavioral interventions in China to promote mental health by social capital enhancement.

Sector blending: evidence from the German Food Bank

This study investigates forms of sector blending practiced by the Federal Association of German Food Banks and respective benefits and drawbacks emerging for the organization. The study builds on a prior sector blending categorization system. Twenty in-depth interviews with food bank members were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. In addition, webpage materials from German food retailers and press releases from the German Food Bank were analyzed. Imitation, interaction and industry creation were forms of sector blending found. The main drawback found was that the food bank fails to serve those outside the German social security system, such as the homeless. Benefits include a more professional image of the organization, and the enhancement of social capital. Overall, the additional generation of funds and resources were the most important aspects of sector blending efforts in the German food bank, as it helps food pantries adjust to an increasing number of people in need.

Professional and Personal Social Networking and Enhancement of Social Capital in Young Adults

This study compares the use of personal and professional social networking sites by young adults for social capital enhancing activities. The research is based on a survey of college-age adults (n=292) who were asked about their use of two social networking sites of contrasting architectures: the more interactive, social/personal\-oriented site Facebook, and the relatively less interactive, professional/business-oriented site LinkedIn. Data were analyzed to determine the relationships among demographic and technology experience factors, and respondents’ use of these sites for social capital enhancing activities. Findings suggest that increasing age and number of SNS profiles are positively related, while gender is not related significantly with social capital enhancing activities on Facebook and LinkedIn. Higher income levels were significantly and positively related with Facebook use but not with LinkedIn use. Surprisingly, the more social-oriented Facebook was used in more social capital enhancing ways than the more professional-oriented LinkedIn, suggesting that for college-age students, socially-oriented sites such as Facebook serve as a platform for the interactions which form a foundation of social connections on which more professional, social capital enhancing activities are based.

THE MECHANISM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE FUNCTIONS OF CONSUMERISM IN MARKET CONDITIONS

Urgency of the research. In conditions of a globalized economy and the sharp polarization of society there is an urgent need for scientific understanding of problems of formation of domestic consumerism, the formation of value orientation as of citizens to organize the protection of their consumer interests. The activity of such structures in the European consumer area is an important element of enhancement of social capital. Therefore, the research of the peculiarities of the implementation of the functions of consumerism is relevant; meets the demands of the theory and practice of modern economy. Target setting. The inherent features of national economic development are associated with low purchasing power of Ukrainian citizens, a lower awareness of their rights as consumers, a strong tendency towards increasing the violations of these rights, sometimes uncontrollable services, particularly in trade, the exclusive situation of utility companies makes consumerism impossible to function effectively. Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. Such domestic and foreign scientists as Bremond J., Valeeva R., Hobson J., Gorelov A., Dochynets N. Drucker P., Dudley J., Zheledana A., Kotler F., Kudelia N., Kahal T., Kazakov M., Lipych L. Opryshko V., Pavlova V., Rosenberg L., Hirst J., Shapoval M., Shliyka A. Yazvinska O. etc. have dedicated their works to the studying of consumer protection issues. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. Despite the significant scientific achievements in the field of consumer protection, the analysis of recent publications indicates the need to study the mechanism for implementing the functions of consumerism towards activating its main subjects. The research objective. The article aims at structuring the areas of improvement mechanism for implementing the components of the functions of consumerism. The statement of basic materials. In the article the theoretical approaches and practical peculiarities of the mechanism for implementing the functions of consumerism in today's market conditions. The functions of consumerism are grouped and grounded on. The main elements mechanism of realization of the functions of consumerism and its functioning in the market conditions are studied and systematized. The shortcomings of the market economy that require determination of additional funds to implement the functions of consumerism are estimated. The main items affected by the mechanism to implement the functions of consumerism in today's market conditions are determined. Based on the assessment of the best foreign practices the objectives of implementation of the mechanism of functions of consumerism and the necessity of self-organization of business to effectively perform the task are stated. Conclusions. The presence of an effective mechanism for implementing the functions of consumerism that includes the structures of self-entrepreneurship will provide the development of the perfect competitive economy. Only the presence of such an economy enables to exist the class of consumers as a full unit of society. Self regulation is proposed as one of the most promising ways of development of consumer protection. An important factor in implementing the functions of consumerism is the improvement of the regulatory framework, bringing it into line with international law, the formation of well-functioning internal market for goods and services in Ukraine and the improvement of state bodies in this area.