Social Capital Research Articles

Professional Male Soccer Players' Perspectives of the Nutrition Culture Within an English Premier League Football Club: A Qualitative Exploration Using Bourdieu's Concepts of Habitus, Capital and Field.

Professional soccer players' self-reported dietary intakes often do not meet recommended sport nutrition guidelines. Although behaviour change models have previously explored barriers and enablers to nutritional adherence, the cultural factors influencing players' nutritional habits also warrant investigation. Accordingly, we aimed to explore players' perceptions of the nutrition culture within the professional soccer environment. An interpretivist paradigm, which emphasises that reality is subjectively and socially constructed, underpins this study. Qualitative, face-to-face semi-structured interviews (comprising open-ended questions) were conducted with purposively sampled male soccer players from the English Premier League (EPL) (five British, five migrant; mean age: 26 ± 6years; mean EPL appearances: 106 ± 129). Data were abductively analysed using thematic analysis according to Bourdieu's concepts of habitus, capital, field and doxa practices. This study revealed five key themes: (1) players' habitus, as shaped by familial, ethnic and religious backgrounds, influences their dietary habits; (2) social capital, via managers (head coaches), teammates and online influences, impact players' dietary practices; (3) the increase in both soccer clubs' and players' economic capitals has advanced nutrition provision; (4) an unequal distribution of economic capitals has led to hierarchical practice in the performance nutrition field with personalised nutrition being somewhat enacted at the higher levels; and (5) body composition measurement is a 'doxic' practice in professional soccer that warrants challenge. Soccer players' habitual nutritional practices are influenced by personal upbringing and the club context, including economic resources and social capital from managers. The performance nutrition field within professional soccer is also shaped by stakeholders' doxic beliefs surrounding the perceived optimal body composition of players, with managers exerting social capital.

Leveraging social capital for digital transformation: The role of ambidexterity and familial orientation

In pursuing competitive advantage, businesses are diffusing new digital technologies across their value chains and, by doing so, catalyzing significant organizational changes in operational processes and strategic approaches. This widespread evolution of businesses has prompted significant questions regarding the drivers of digital change, the necessary resources, and the capabilities that need to be developed or reconfigured. Our paper focuses on the role of intangible resources, such as a firm's social capital, and its specific implications for the broader research on this phenomenon. Consistent with the resource-based view, we examine the role of different types of social capital as critical resources in the digital transformation process while also considering the mediating role of the balancing act of the capabilities around business alignment and adaptation encompassed in the concept of ambidexterity. Furthermore, we introduce a contextual dimension to our study by examining family involvement in a firm as a significant factor influencing how businesses shape their digital goals and allocate resources toward digital transformation. Our paper addresses this under-explored research field by drawing on a large, cross-sectional dataset from an online panel study with 582 management-level participants from UK firms. After testing our hypotheses, our study's results indicate that bridging and bonding social capital resources significantly promote digital transformation by indirectly developing an ambidextrous orientation. Moreover, familial orientation strengthens both relationships. This research is currently one of the few studies providing empirical evidence on the relationship between digital transformation, its antecedents, and, specifically, the role of intangible resources.

Variation of subclinical psychosis as a function of population density across different European settings: Findings from the multi-national EU-GEI study.

Urbanicity is a well-established risk factor for psychosis. Our recent multi-national study found an association between urbanicity and clinical psychosis in Northern Europe but not in Southern Europe. In this study, we hypothesized that the effect of current urbanicity on variation of schizotypy would be greater in North-western Europe countries than in Southern Europe ones. We recruited 1080 individuals representative of the populations aged 18-64 of 14 different sites within 5 countries, classified as either North-western Europe (England, France, and The Netherlands) with Southern Europe (Spain and Italy). Our main outcome was schizotypy, assessed through the Structured Interview for Schizotypy-Revised. Our main exposure was current urbanicity, operationalized as local population density. A priori confounders were age, sex, ethnic minority status, childhood maltreatment, and social capital. Schizotypy variation was assessed using multi-level regression analysis. To test the differential effect of urbanicity between North-western and Southern European, we added an interaction term between population density and region of recruitment. Population density was associated with schizotypy (β = 0.248,95%CI = 0.122-0.375;p < 0.001). The addition of the interaction term improved the model fit (likelihood test ratio:χ2 = 6.85; p = 0.009). The effect of urbanicity on schizotypy was substantially stronger in North-western Europe (β = 0.620,95%CI = 0.362-0.877;p < 0.001) compared with Southern Europe (β = 0.190,95%CI = 0.083-0.297;p = 0.001). The association between urbanicity and both subclinical schizotypy and clinical psychosis, rather than being universal, is context-specific. Considering that urbanization is a rapid and global process, further research is needed to disentangle the specific factors underlying this relationship.

School District Housing Buyers and Educational Investment Returns: A Case Study of X District in Shanghai

As a dual carrier of educational resources and economic assets, school district housing has become an important tool for family educational investment and social class reproduction. This paper takes Shanghai's X District as an example to explore, from a sociological perspective, the purchasing behaviors of different groups regarding school district housing and their educational investment returns. It reveals the key role of school district housing in the accumulation of cultural and social capital. The study finds that high-income families, the middle class, and the working class in X District exhibit different demand tendencies when purchasing school district housing, reflecting goals of obtaining high-quality educational resources, expanding social capital, and achieving upward social mobility, respectively. The phenomenon of school district housing exacerbates the imbalance in the distribution of educational resources and limits social mobility.

Community Forest Management and the Resilience of Karen Indigenous Knowledge in Northern Thailand.

This study investigates the resilience of indigenous knowledge in five Karen villages, located in Thailand's Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Lampang provinces, that have been recognized for best practices in community forest management (CFM). The CFM model was initiated by local communities to promote forest conservation and community engagement. Data on CFM practices, land-use rights, social networks, and indigenous knowledge were collected through 17 in-depth interviews and 5 focus group meetings. The findings include how these Karen communities have adopted payment for environmental services (PES) to fund conservation projects and social welfare. More specifically, PES generates social capital by facilitating coordination with stakeholders from the private sector, academia, and government. These social networks promote markets for local products and advocate for indigenous land-use rights. The PES model also serves as a tool whereby Indigenous Peoples can shape their identities as innovative forest guardians and legitimize their residence within the forest. Additionally, the study reports on how Karen people have diversified their livelihoods to include hosting academic tourism, handicrafts, and livestock, reducing their dependence on forest resources.

Multilevel causal mechanisms in social entrepreneurship: the enabling role of social capital

ABSTRACT We take a new mechanism-based approach to explain how social entrepreneurship emerges from the interaction of multilevel elements, based on case study evidence from China. Informed by Coleman’s ‘boat model’ of social mechanisms, social capital theory and a critical realist ontology, we highlight three mechanisms – the sparking, manifesting and scaling mechanisms – which collectively generate the social entrepreneurship phenomenon. When enabled by social capital, these mechanisms explain the causal relations between the multilevel elements of social entrepreneurship: social needs, social entrepreneurial ideas and practice, market creation and social impact. This framework generates novel insights into the multilevel nature of social entrepreneurship, and the central role of social capital in enabling its underlying mechanisms.

Indonesia’s financial resilience: Between optimism and risk

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between financial resilience, exchange rate, inflation, and economic growth from 1996 to 2022 using secondary data from the World Bank. The analysis method uses vector autoregressive to understand the causality dynamics between these variables. The results show that past economic growth positively impacts current economic conditions, but an increase in the exchange rate can hinder economic growth. The exchange rate also tends to be influenced by previous values, but high economic growth does not always increase the exchange rate. Previous conditions significantly affect financial resilience and can be strengthened by a strong currency. Meanwhile, inflation has an inverse relationship with economic growth, where past inflation seems to suppress current inflation, which price stabilization policies can cause. From an institutional economics perspective, this study provides an understanding of the interaction between various economic factors in the structural framework and policies that regulate economic activities. The impulse response function (IRF) shows that economic growth can react strongly to sudden changes, although this reaction may not last long. The exchange rate fluctuates with economic changes, reflecting market optimism and uncertainty. Financial resilience may be strong initially but may weaken over time, indicating the need for policies to strengthen the financial system to ensure economic stability. Furthermore, the role of social capital in economic resilience is highlighted as it can amplify the positive effects of a robust institutional framework by fostering trust and collaboration among economic actors. Inflation reacts differently to economic changes, challenging policymakers to balance growth and price stability. Overall, the IRF provides insights into how economic variables interact with each other and react to sudden changes, albeit with some uncertainty in the estimates. The forecast error decomposition variance (FEVD) analysis in this study reveals that internal factors initially influence economic growth, but over time, external factors such as the exchange rate, financial resilience, and inflation come into play. The exchange rate, which was initially volatile due to internal factors, becomes increasingly influenced by economic growth, indicating a close relationship between the economy and the foreign exchange market. From an institutional economics perspective, financial resilience, which was initially stable due to internal factors, becomes increasingly dependent on global economic conditions, suggesting the importance of a solid institutional framework for maintaining economic stability. In addition, inflation, which was initially explained by economic growth and exchange rates, has gradually become more influenced by financial resilience, indicating the importance of effective monetary policy in controlling inflation. This study highlights the importance of understanding how economic variables influence each other for effective economic governance. Integrating institutional economics and social capital perspectives provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing financial resilience and promoting sustainable economic development in Indonesia.

Analysis of the Development of Rural Aqueduct Organizations in the Central Zone of Colombia: A View from Sustainable Livelihoods

Within the framework of sustainability analysis regarding the processes developed by man, water resources in rural scenarios have been a priority due to the impact generated by population growth and climate changes in tropical regions. In Colombia, the shortage of drinking water from aqueducts has become a problem especially in rural areas, even though its administration has been set and led by local community organizations. In this sense, in this research, the aim was to understand the dynamics of sustainable livelihoods in rural areas and their relationship with water resources in Boyacá, Colombia. For this purpose, surveys were carried out in two rural aqueducts in the municipalities of Boyacá and Oicatá paying special attention to the variables that affect human, social, technical, physical, natural, and financial capital. According to the results, the water supplied by community organizations directly affects the daily activities of family units, as well as the agricultural production systems. In addition, significant relationships were identified between human and financial capital, as well as social and technical capital; however, population increment and the accentuation of dry seasons have become a threat in these regions in Colombia. In conclusion, the analysis of the work developed by the organizations of rural aqueducts allows us to understand that water plays a fundamental role in the construction of society.

HUBUNGAN MODAL SOSIAL PETANI TERHADAP KEBERLANJUTAN USAHATANI JAGUNG KUNING DI DESA WAKADIA KECAMATAN WATOPUTE KABUPATEN MUNA

The objective of this study is to ascertain the correlation between farmers' social capital and the sustainability of yellow corn farming in Wakadia Village, Watopute Subdistrict, Muna Regency. The study population consisted of all yellow corn farmers in Wakadia Village, Watopute Subdistrict, Muna Regency, comprising a total of 103 households. The number of samples was determined using the Slovin formula with a 10% error margin, resulting in a sample size of 51 respondents. The sampling technique employed was simple random sampling. The data collection techniques employed included surveys, interviews, and document analysis, with data collected using questionnaires. This study employs two variables: social capital, comprising trust, participation, networks, and social norms, and farm sustainability, encompassing economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The data were subjected to descriptive analysis using a class interval formula and a Rank Spearman correlation formula. The findings indicate that the social capital of farmers engaged in yellow corn farming in Wakadia Village, Watopute Subdistrict, Muna Regency is in an optimal category, suggesting that their social capital is capable of sustaining yellow corn farming over the long term. The sustainability of yellow corn farming in Wakadia Village is sufficient, indicating that farmers have implemented business sustainability indicators but still require improvement. There is a significant and positive relationship between farmers' social capital and yellow maize business sustainability in Wakadia Village.

PENGARUH MODAL SOSIAL TERHADAP KAPASITAS MANAJERIAL PETANI JAGUNG DI DESA UMBA KECAMATAN NAPANO KUSAMBI KABUPATEN MUNA BARAT

This study aims to ascertain the social capital and managerial capacity of farmers, as well as to determine the influence of the social model on the managerial capacity of corn farmers in Umba Village, Napano Kusambi Subdistrict, West Muna Regency. The research population comprises all individuals engaged in the cultivation of corn in Umba Village, amounting to a total of 32 individuals. The sample was selected using the census method, resulting in a sample size of 32 respondents for this study. Data were collected through observation, surveys, and structured interviews, with the use of a questionnaire. This study employed a quantitative approach. The variables under investigation are divided into two categories: social capital and managerial capacity among farmers. The data were subjected to two distinct forms of analysis. Initially, a quantitative descriptive analysis was conducted utilising the class interval formula to delineate the prevailing conditions pertaining to social capital and managerial capacity among maize farmers. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression analysis was employed to ascertain the influence of social capital on the managerial capacity of maize farmers. The multiple linear regression analysis is comprised of three tests: the T-test, F-test, and determination test. The findings indicate that the utilization of social capital among corn farmers in Umba Village is classified as favorable. This is evidenced by the presence of a robust level of trust, a commendable application of norms, and a relatively strong network of social connections. The managerial capacity of maize farmers is categorized as good, as evidenced by their effective maize farm planning and organization. However, there are areas for improvement, particularly in the dimensions of maize farming implementation and supervision, which remain in the poor category. Social capital has a significant positive effect on the managerial capacity of maize farmers, amounting to 29.1%, with 70.9% influenced by other factors.

Kajian Reflektif Pelaksanaan Program Kampung Deret di Jakarta

Slums are one of the phenomena of urban poverty problems caused by the lack of resources for the urban poor to access livable housing. The purpose of this research is to describe government policies in tackling slums in Jakarta through the Kampung Deret Program and analyze the application of social capital in the implementation of the Kampung Deret Program in Jakarta. The research approach used is a qualitative approach with the type of literature review. This method collects relevant data from various reference sources including previous research, books, media coverage, laws, and regulations. The results showed that the Kampung Deret program is one of the policies of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government in tackling slum problems. In addition, there are differences in the description of community participation in the implementation of the Kampung Deret program caused by unequal responses from the community. The conclusion is that community participation is determined by the existence of reciprocal social relations between residents, as well as between residents and the government, in which there are elements of trust, values, and social norms. This study recommends that future researchers conduct studies on community involvement in the formulation of slum program policies in Jakarta.Keywords : slums, kampung deret program, social capital

How Does the Adoption of e‐Commerce Impact the Selling Prices of Agricultural Products? Empirical Evidence From Apple Farmers in China

ABSTRACTThe sale of products through e‐commerce is emerging in rural China, and it cuts out intermediaries and allows farmers direct access to the market. To understand how adopting e‐commerce impacts the selling prices of agricultural products and who benefits more from adopting e‐commerce, we interviewed 480 apple farmers from the three representative provinces in China. The Propensity Score Matching approach combined with sensitivity analysis is employed to address the potential self‐selection bias in estimating the impacts of adopting e‐commerce. We find that adopting of e‐commerce drives significant increases in the selling prices of apple products, including the average price, the maximum price and the minimum price. The heterogeneity analysis suggests that the adoption of e‐commerce has significant heterogeneous effects on selling prices across various ages and education of household heads, land area, distance to the local town centre and social capital. The analysis of potential pathways reveals that increases in selling prices are attributed to farmers achieving more marketing flexibility through more adaptable sale times and extended sale periods due to adopting e‐commerce. The research findings provide rigorous evidence on optimal future policy design regarding the development of rural e‐commerce for poverty alleviation in China and other developing countries.

“Alone on the road”: Loneliness among digital nomads and the use of social media to foster personal relationships

The “digital nomad” (DN) neotribe includes professionals who work remotely from different locations. Despite the benefits of digital nomadism (e.g. work flexibility, high mobility, and leisure-centeredness) and opportunities for meeting like-minded people, one of the consequences of the lifestyle may be loneliness. By using 30 in-depth interviews, this study explores the interaction between digital nomadism and loneliness. We conceptualize the DN lifestyle as a continuum that may, but does not have to, lead to feelings of loneliness. External factors such as lack of social support, often related to the capacity to stay in a place long enough to build a network or the social competence skills to connect with others, may contribute to greater levels of loneliness. Conversely, in line with networked individualism, we examine how DNs seek more control over constructing their own social networks in the context of a hyperindividualistic society. Instagram, Facebook groups, Slack, MeetUp, CouchSurfing, and Tinder are identified as key platforms for DNs to connect with people, especially for bridging social capital, whereas WhatsApp is used more for bonding social capital. The paper offers a timely discussion of the way that DNs use different social media platforms to overcome loneliness, forge intimate connections, and build community.

MODAL SOSIAL PENYULUH: PERAN KEPERCAYAAN DALAM KEGIATAN PENYULUHAN PERTANIAN DI KOTA KENDARI

The objective of this study was to ascertain the extent of social capital among extension workers in Kendari City, with a particular focus on the role of trust in the implementation of effective agricultural extension activities. The study population consisted of all agricultural extension workers in Kendari City, numbering 63 individuals. The research sample was selected using the census technique, which involves taking the entire population, resulting in a sample size of 63 respondents. The data were collected via survey, interview, and document analysis techniques, employing a variety of media formats, including questionnaires. The research variables concentrated on the social capital of extension workers, specifically in the context of trust in agricultural extension activities. This research employs a quantitative methodology. The data were analyzed using a quantitative descriptive approach. This method employs mathematical and statistical calculations for testing, measurement, and hypothesis testing. The findings indicated that the social capital of the extension workers in Kendari City, specifically their trust in agricultural extension activities, has been effectively implemented. Trust in agricultural extension activities is a crucial element in the success of extension work. The relationship between extension workers and farmers plays a pivotal role in this process. By fostering effective communication and mutual respect, trust can be established, which in turn will encourage the adoption of more effective and sustainable agricultural practices.

Pengaruh Pemanfaatan Media Sosial, Kreativitas dan Modal Usaha terhadap Keberlanjutan Bisnis UMKM Milenial di Kota Medan

This examination was expected to research the impact of the utilization of virtual entertainment, imagination, and business capital on the supportability of the Millennial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) business in Kota Medan. All SMEs in Kota Medan were picked as the populace and 73 respondents were utilized in this examination. Information was tried through a few cycles, for example, legitimacy test, dependability tests, the exemplary supposition test as the ordinariness test, heteroscedasticity test and multicollinearity test. For testing the speculation, numerous straight relapse examination with the assistance of SPSS Statistics 20 For Windows programming. The consequences of this study show that, (1) the utilization of web-based entertainment meaningfully affects Millennial SMEs business supportability, (2) innovativeness has a positive and massive impact towards Millennial SMEs business manageability, and (3) business capital has a positive and tremendous impact towards Millennial SMEs business maintainability. Keywords: Utilization of Social Media, Creativity, Business Capital, and Business Sustainability

A conceptual framework for integrating digital transformation in healthcare marketing to boost patient engagement and compliance

This paper presents a conceptual framework for integrating digital transformation in healthcare marketing to enhance patient engagement and compliance with treatment regimens. As healthcare systems evolve, the adoption of digital technologies has become imperative for fostering meaningful interactions between patients and providers. The proposed framework emphasizes leveraging digital marketing techniques, data analytics, and personalized communication strategies to strengthen patient-provider relationships and improve health outcomes. At the core of the framework is the use of digital marketing techniques, including social media outreach, content marketing, and mobile applications, to reach patients effectively. These tools facilitate the dissemination of vital health information and resources, enabling patients to make informed decisions about their care. By utilizing data analytics, healthcare organizations can gain insights into patient behaviors, preferences, and demographics, allowing for the customization of marketing efforts to meet the specific needs of diverse patient populations. Personalized communication strategies are pivotal in this framework, as they empower healthcare providers to deliver tailored messages that resonate with individual patients. This personalization fosters a sense of connection and trust, encouraging patients to engage actively in their treatment plans. By utilizing patient data, providers can send reminders, educational content, and motivational messages that enhance treatment adherence and compliance. Moreover, the framework addresses the importance of feedback loops, where healthcare organizations continuously gather and analyze patient responses to marketing efforts. This iterative process allows for the optimization of strategies, ensuring they remain effective and relevant over time. By fostering a culture of engagement, organizations can cultivate long-term relationships with patients, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes. In conclusion, this conceptual framework serves as a strategic guide for healthcare organizations aiming to harness digital transformation in their marketing efforts. By integrating digital marketing techniques, data analytics, and personalized communication strategies, organizations can enhance patient engagement, improve treatment adherence, and positively impact overall health outcomes.

Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives on brand reputation: A study on how CSR activities enhance brand reputation and consumer loyalty in the context of sustainable marketing practices

Contemporary businesses cannot survive in today's cutthroat marketplace without engaging in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Examining how CSR initiatives cultivate consumer loyalty within the framework of environmentally conscious advertising campaigns, this study probes the link between CSR initiatives and public perception of brands. Community involvement, ethical work practices, and environmental stewardship are some of the CSR programs examined in this research, which seeks to understand how these initiatives influence brand image and consumer behaviour. Case studies and consumer surveys were the basis of this study, which found that CSR-active companies' reputations, as well as the trust and loyalty of their target audience, were positively impacted. Customers are more loyal than ever before to brands that reflect their values, and the research highlights the importance of companies that demonstrate genuine commitment to sustainability. Based on the findings, businesses may boost their image, get more customers involved in the long run, and differentiate themselves from rivals by making CSR a central part of their strategy. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on corporate social responsibility and sustainable marketing. It offers valuable insights for organizations that want to build a reputation that is both responsible and customer-centric.

Securing commitment and control for the supply of plasma derivatives for public health systems. I: A short review of the global landscape.

The social market economies of the Western world considered the provision of plasma derivatives produced from publicly owned blood services as a legitimate state commitment and, until the last decades of the 20th century, many of the relevant jurisdictions maintained state-supported fractionation plants to convert publicly collected plasma into products for the public health system. This situation started to change in the 1990s, because of several converging factors, and currently, publicly owned/subsidized, not-for-profit fractionation activity has shrunk to a handful of players. However, the collection of plasma from publicly owned blood services has continued and recent developments have increased the interest of state authorities globally to increase the volume of plasma collected to increase the level of strategic independence in the supply of crucial plasma-derived medicines from commercial market pressures, particularly the global for-profit fractionation sector with its dominance of source plasma from paid donors in the United States. This paper reviews the development of the plasma industry and the evolution of the pressures on the supply of plasma, which has led to a situation of scarcity of key plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs).

Influential factors in the consumption of water by schoolchildren in Mexico

Purpose Based on the assumptions of the social ecological theory (SET), this study aims to identify the factors that influence water consumption by the schoolchildren segment in urban communities in Mexico, to further develop a community-based social marketing intervention. Design/methodology/approach This study was formative research, quantitative and qualitative in nature, consisting of a survey, focus groups and in-depth interviews. It was conducted in public and private elementary schools in central Mexico (five states), during 2023. Findings It was identified that parents are aware of the benefits of drinking water for their children’s health. However, various factors in the sociocultural environment, perceptions, customs and habits were noted as barriers to water consumption. Consequently, children’s behaviors are influenced by their family context as the strongest environment. Likewise, the school environment and the social environment are identified as other influential factors. Each system acts as a motivator or barrier in the child’s behavior, creating and supporting consumption behaviors learned from an early age. Originality/value Interventions on water consumption should target the most influential SET systems; the microsystem and the mesosystem, achieving the participation and co-responsibility of stakeholders in changing the environment and thus behavior.

Research on Traffic Optimization and Growth Strategy under Precision Marketing -- A Case Study of Social Media Xiaohongshu

With the development and progress of social media, digital marketing has ushered in a new era. With over 200 million monthly active users, Xiaohongshu has shown brands the potential of precision marketing and traffic optimization on social media. Major brands have joined Xiaohongshu to improve their communication matrix. Therefore, this article adopts the literature analysis method to analyze the marketing status and reasons and problems for the existence of traffic on the Xiaohongshu platform, and explores strategies for optimizing traffic on the Xiaohongshu platform based on the 4C template. In the era of digital marketing, the Xiaohongshu brand needs to reposition itself accurately, promote personalized marketing, use technological methods to create creative content, attract user attention, and use diverse interactive methods to establish emotional resonance with users. In order to improve the drawbacks of Xiaohongshu’s traffic growth, enhance its traffic utilization rate, improve Xiaohongshu’s user reputation, and provide more accurate theoretical basis and development direction for social media precision marketing, ushering in long-term and healthy development.