Section One: Introduction to Social Capital Theory

The Importance of Social Capital Development Programs

Studies point out that community development programs help build social capital, which contributes to achieving different social outcomes, including improving various groups' health, economic situation and well-being.

Social Capital Outcomes of Community Programs

Experiences from different community programs have shown the outcomes of social capital development. For example, some community leadership development programs can effectively enhance community members' ability to build social networks, promote social participation, and establish social organisations and networks (Burbaugh & Kaufman, 2017). Some youth development programs and community activities also contribute to the development of social capital, such as promoting the establishment of social trust, a sense of community belonging, and participation in volunteer work (Darcy et al., 2014; Krasny et al., 2015).

Well-being, Health, and Economic Outcomes

Different community programs also improve the well-being, health, and economic situations of various groups by promoting the development of social capital. For example, developing social capital to create age-friendly communities can improve the elderly’s mental health (Glicksman et al., 2016). Additionally, the development of social capital can effectively promote economic development (Woolcock, 1998), such as assisting in the development of employment market networks (Asquith et al., 2021), improving poverty conditions (Halstead et al., 2022), and driving community economic development (Roxas & Azmat, 2014).