Section Four: Social Capital and Special Topics

Social Capital and Health

Health is a core theme in social capital research because social networks and cohesion profoundly affect the health status of individuals and groups (Kawachi et al., 2008). Various studies indicate that social capital development practice can effectively improve health outcomes, including enhancing social support and social networks, promoting healthy behaviours, alleviating stress, and improving access to and use of healthcare services (Coll-Planas et al., 2017; Villalonga-Olives et al., 2018).

Social Support and Social Networks

Social support and social networks are essential links between social capital and health outcomes (Quintal et al., 2023). Social networks provide emotional support, a sense of identity, and a sense of belonging. These are essential resources for coping with daily life stress and challenges, helping maintain mental health and enhance resilience (Eriksson, 2011). Public health and social service agencies develop social support networks to provide various types of support for groups in need within the community, thereby improving their physical and mental health (Villalonga-Olives et al., 2018). For example, there are practices worldwide targeted at caregivers, providing them with appropriate social support and helping them develop social networks through peer support, community networks, mutual help groups, and online support, which can alleviate the physical and mental burden of their daily caregiving work (Dam et al., 2016).

Healthy Behaviours

Studies indicate that social capital positively promotes healthy behaviours (Emmering et al., 2018). Social networks, community participation, trust, and reciprocity within the scope of social capital can encourage and reinforce healthy lifestyles, such as regular exercise, healthy diet, and avoiding high-risk behaviours (Nieminen et al., 2013). Moreover, social norms and values can positively impact individual and collective health behaviours, such as promoting smoking cessation, reducing alcohol consumption, increasing physical activity, and creating a healthy community environment (Emmering et al., 2018; Eriksson, 2011).

Stress Alleviation

Research indicates that social capital can act as a mechanism for alleviating individual stress, reducing the negative impacts of stress through social cohesion and mutual support (Thoits, 2011). Studies point out that cognitive social capital at the individual level, including trust, social support, and community awareness, serves as a protective factor against common mental illnesses; whereas that at the community level, such as overall community trust, can lower the risk of mental illness (Ehsan & De Silva, 2015). Additionally, scholars propose that social support can mitigate the physiological response to stress, reducing the risk of chronic diseases (Uchino, 2006).

Access to and Use of Healthcare Services

Research indicates that social capital can effectively improve access to and use of healthcare services (Derose & Varda, 2009). Social networks may provide information about health services, and social participation and neighbourhood trust can enhance the usage of health services, such as health check-ups and home and community-based care services (Ekadinata et al., 2023; Emmering et al., 2018). Developing social capital to improve disadvantaged groups' access to and use of healthcare services is an important intervention strategy in public health promotion and high-risk disease prevention. This approach can notably enhance the use of medical and community care services by the elderly, which is also a key element in building age-friendly communities and practising "ageing in place" (Ekadinata et al., 2023; Laporte et al., 2008).

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