Do bonding and bridging social capital affect self-rated health, depressive mood and cognitive decline in older Japanese? A prospective cohort study

Social capital and healthy eating among two ethnic minority groups in Yunnan Province, Southwest China: the mediating role of social support and nutrition knowledge

Background

Although social capital has been linked to dietary intake particularly in disadvantaged populations, little is known about the mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate whether social support (SS) and nutrition knowledge (NK) mediate the association between social capital and healthy eating habits.

Methods

A probability sample of two ethnic minority groups in Yunnan Province, Southwest China were included (n = 1,033, mean age 47.5 ± 14.7 years). Bonding and bridging social capital (BOC and BRC) were assessed with the Personal Social Capital Scale (PSCS-16). Dietary data were evaluated with the Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI), a measure of diet quality which reflects adherence to the Chinese Dietary Guidelines. NK and SS were measured with a validated questionnaire and scale, respectively. Structural Equation Modeling was used to calculate the direct, indirect and total effects of social capital on CHEI scores.

Results

The mean score of CHEI was 57.4 ± 9.8, which was significantly lower in men and older people. Low adherence to dietary guidelines were to observed in the consumption of dairy, beans, nuts, animal-source food vegetables and fruits. BOC and BRC were positively associated with CHEI score (β = 0.37 and 0.38, all p < 0.05). Social support and nutrition knowledge mediated 45.9 and 39.5% of the total effect of social capital on CHEI score, respectively.

Conclusion

Social capital appears to enhance adherence to dietary guidelines by improving nutrition knowledge and social support. Nutrition promotion programs therefore should consider incorporating strategies that foster social capital development, particularly in disadvantaged populations.

The role of health and health systems in promoting social capital, political participation and peace: A narrative review

High levels of violence and insecurity are highly detrimental for societies. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 is advocating for peaceful, accountable and inclusive institutions as one powerful channel to foster global development. Investing in health and health policies can potentially contribute achieving these objectives. After providing a conceptual framework, this article reviews the existing literature on the evidence of the role of health and health systems in promoting social capital and trust, political engagement and participation, and peace that closely relate to the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 16. We provide evidence of a systematically positive impact of better physical and mental health on social capital, and on political participation, both contributing to the sustainability of inclusive democratic institutions. We also document that health and health systems can help supporting peace, both via the reduction of social inequality and grievances, and by reducing the disruptive effects of epidemic shocks. Overall, the study provides evidence that health and health systems can generate co-benefits outside the health domain by promoting social capital, political participation and peace.

Association between social capital and self-rated health among community-dwelling older adults

Background

It is less known about whether the association of social capital with self-rated health (SRH) varies by the presence of health conditions and how social capital, together with other variables, is linked to self-rated health in later life.

Objectives

This article aimed to explore the association of social capital with self-rated health and to examine whether the association varies among older people with and without health conditions, with a special focus on how social capital and relevant factors have an effect on self-rated health among community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

Cross-sectional data were obtained from a survey that commenced from July to September 2017 in Anhui Province. Data on socio-demographic information, social capital (six dimensions), and self-rated health were analyzed. Binary logistic regression and classification and regression tree (CART) models were used to estimate the association.

Results

Based on the findings, we found that social capital regarding less social support (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.21-2.04), and less reciprocity (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.29-2.31) were associated with self-rated health among general older adults. Social capital as measured by less social participation (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.06-2.27), less cohesion (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42-0.94), and less reciprocity (AOR =1.77, 95% CI: 1.17-2.68) were linked to self-rated health among older people with health conditions. While social capital regarding less social support (AOR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.39-3.33) was related to self-rated health among older people without health conditions. We observed the interacting effect of social capital in the CART model, an implication that much focus should be geared toward vulnerable subgroups, especially depressed and lonely older people, as they have low reciprocity and little cohesion.

Conclusion

This work demonstrates that social capital may be relevant in devising programs and measures to improve self-rated health among community-dwelling older adults with comorbidity.

Adaptation of the personal social capital brief scale for the measurement of the offline and online social capital in Italy

Social Capital refers to the resources associated with durable and trustworthy social connections. Social Capital can be developed through offline and online relationships. It can be distinguished between cognitive Social Capital (perception of trustworthiness, reciprocity, and support) and structural Social Capital (density of social networks and membership, and participation in groups and associations). It can also be distinguished between bonding Social Capital (resources associated with informal networks; i.e., neighbors, friends, colleagues) and bridging Social Capital (resources associated with formal networks; i.e., community service, cultural, religious or political groups/associations). The different forms and dimensions of Social Capital may have distinct effects on health outcomes and self-rated health. Therefore, public health researchers need valid and reliable instruments to investigate Social Capital. However, valid instruments including the measurement of online Social Capital are not available. The Personal Social Capital Scale aims to assess bonding and bridging Social Capital by means of cognitive and structural items. In the present investigation, three studies were carried out (N = 1149) to adapt the Personal Social Capital Scale to develop the Personal On-Offline Social Capital Brief Scale, a brief scale for measuring online and offline bonding and bridging Social Capital in Italy. Factorial structure and convergent/divergent validity in relation to scales measuring constructs with different patterns of relationships with bonding and bridging Social Capital (i.e., social support and stress; sense of community and health) were also investigated. Overall, these studies provide evidence of reliability and validity related to the internal structure of the Personal On-Offline Social Capital Brief Scale in measuring online and offline bonding and bridging Social Capital and discriminating them from similar constructs. This scale is a useful instrument for planning public health interventions.

The effect of social relationships on cognitive decline in older adults: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal cohort studies

Background

A previous meta-analysis (Kuiper et al., 2016) has shown that multiple aspects of social relationships are associated with cognitive decline in older adults. Yet, results indicated possible bias in estimations of statistical effects due to the heterogeneity of study design and measurements. We have updated this meta-analysis adding all relevant publications from 2012 to 2020 and performed a cumulative meta-analysis to map the evolution of this growing field of research (+80% of studies from 2012-2020 compared to the period considered in the previous meta-analysis).

Methods

Scopus and Web of Science were searched for longitudinal cohort studies examining structural, functional and combined effects of social relationships. We combined Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using random effects meta-analysis and assessed sources of heterogeneity and the likelihood of publication bias. The risk of bias was evaluated with the Quality of Prognosis Studies in Systematic Reviews (QUIPS) tool.

Results

The review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42019130667). We identified 34 new articles published in 2012-2020. Poor social relationships were associated with cognitive decline with increasing precision of estimates compared to previously reviewed studies [(for structural, 17 articles, OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.08; 1.14) (for functional, 16 articles, OR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.05; 1.20) (for combined, 5 articles, OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.06; 1.24)]. Meta-regression, risk and subgroup analyses showed that the precision of estimations improved in recent studies mostly due to increased sample sizes.

Conclusions

Our cumulative meta-analysis would confirm that multiple aspects of social relationships are associated with cognitive decline. Yet, there is still evidence of publication bias and relevant information on study design is often missing, which could lead to an over-estimation of their statistical effects.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1186/s12889-022-12567-5).

Can servant leadership prevent hotel employee depression during the COVID-19 pandemic? A mediating and multigroup analysis

The hospitality industry has been severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with changes that have harmed employees' psychological well-being. However, having supervisors who are servant may make a difference. With a focus on serving others and the care taken to ensure their employees' highest priority needs are served, these leaders could help employees feel less depressed in these complicated times. By instilling servant behaviors in followers that help them become people that others can trust or with whom they can develop friendships, leaders could help these employees earn greater levels of personal social capital (PSC) through which to more successfully address pandemic times, especially if furloughed. Using structural equation modeling to analyze a sample of 205 hotel employees in Spain, we found that servant leadership directly decreases depression, and that PSC mediates this relationship. Our multigroup analyses (MGA) findings also reveal that when these employees are furloughed, the negative effect of PSC and the mediating role of PSC in this relationship is stronger. New light is thus shed on how servant leadership is effective in reducing employee depressive symptoms in times of severe changes such as those produced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reliability of a Scale for the Evaluation of Generativity Relative to Health (GeReH) in the Mexican Population in the Aging Process

Generativity is a quality that allows the person to do something for others. In teaching, caring for grandchildren, or volunteering, the generative person contributes to the people around him and at the same time must maintain self-care for good health and functionality. In this sense, an individual in good health has the potential to contribute to the well-being of others. Likewise, with adequate self-esteem, the generative person can love himself, take care of himself and others; in this affective representation, satisfaction can be perceived from the recognition that others make of his transmission of experiences. The most used scales that measure generativity in the gerontological field are the Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS) and the Generative Behavior Control List (GBC). However, they do not recognize generative health-related behavior. The purpose of this study was to design a scale to assess generativity relative to health (GeReH) and analyze its psychometric properties in an aging population (45 years and over) in Mexico, considering its internal structure, reliability, and relationship with self-esteem. Method: A non-experimental cross-sectional study was carried out with a single group considering three stages: (i) design of the GeReH scale and (ii) psychometric properties of the GeReH scale, and (iii) the GeReH’s relationship with self-esteem. This type of instrument will allow identifying the profile of people willing to be independent and support their peers, considering the use of technological devices for community telecare, such as smartphones and personal computers, through the use of social networks such as “Facebook”, “WhatsApp”, and “Zoom” among others, is essential, especially since more and more older adults are users of these devices and virtual community social networks. The participants were 450 adults aged 45 years and over, of whom 296 women and 154 men; 235 people lived in rural areas and 215 people in urban areas. Inclusion criteria: independent in basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Exclusion criteria: cognitive alterations, no training or work history in health care. In the first stage, the GeReH design was carried out divided into three phases: i) elaboration of 258 items by a group of researchers in accordance with the proposed construct for the instrument, ii) focus group to know the meanings of adults regarding the items, iii) expert consultation for item analysis, which resulted in 90 items. In the second stage, the psychometric properties of the scale were analyzed, proceeding to the statistical analysis. Results: Bias, kurtosis, and total item correlation were analyzed, eliminating 17 items. KMO 0.904 values and Bartlett’s test of sphericity (X² = 2717, gl = 190, p < 0.0001) were obtained. In the third stage, the correlation of the GeReH score with the Self-Esteem Inventory was determined. Orthogonal rotation (Oblimin) was used, obtaining a total explained variance of the generativity construct of 44.2% with a global Omega McDonald reliability coefficient of 0.887, which yielded five factors: F1 = Generative attitude; F2 = Satisfaction; F3 = Volunteering; F4 = Support Networks; F5 = Social support offered. In this sense, the design of a GeReH of 20 items with psychometric properties. Correspondingly, significant positive correlations were observed between the GeReH score and the Self-Esteem Inventory, especially in factor 2 relative to satisfaction. Conclusion: GeReH is an instrument with reliable psychometric properties that could be applied in populations with similar characteristics. In addition to considering the use of technological devices, for the optimal use of media and social networks, such as “Facebook”, “WhatsApp”, “E-mail”, and “Zoom”, among others.

Examining the multilevel associations between psychological wellbeing and social trust: A primary analysis of survey data

The present study examines the associations between multiple measures of social trust and two outcomes of psychological wellbeing (happiness and depression) among South Korean adults (n = 1549) living in residential communities, that is, administrative districts (n = 77) in and around the capital city of Seoul. Based on multilevel modeling, we find that familial trust positively predicts happiness at both individual and contextual levels; and it negatively predicts depression at the individual level only. In comparison, peer trust is negatively related only to depression at the individual level, albeit marginally. Lastly, general trust significantly predicts both outcomes at the community, but not individual, level. These mixed findings suggest that the trust-wellbeing relationship depends critically on issues of definition (how the variables are conceptualized) and measurement (how they are operationalized according to different units of analysis). Our study offers implications for the literature on social determinants of mental health broadly and, more specifically, on the role of social trust.

Life Experiences of Older Men Living Alone With Depression

As the percentage of older adults living alone increases, social interest has been drawn to this physically, financially, and socially vulnerable group. The purpose of the current study was to gain a deeper understanding of the life experiences of older men with depression who live alone. Eight community-dwelling men aged ≥65 years who lived alone in Korea and had depression were enrolled in this study. Data were collected via individual in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged from analysis: Life Trapped in the Traditional Masculine Ideology, Weakening Mind and Body, Lost and Helpless, and Beginning of Communication With the World. Results of this study will be helpful in developing more effective depression intervention programs for older men living alone by increasing community health care professionals' understanding and sensitivity. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].

Operationalizing Social Environments in Cognitive Aging and Dementia Research: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Social environments are a contributing determinant of health and disparities. This scoping review details how social environments have been operationalized in observational studies of cognitive aging and dementia.

METHODS

A systematic search in PubMed and Web of Science identified studies of social environment exposures and late-life cognition/dementia outcomes. Data were extracted on (1) study design; (2) population; (3) social environment(s); (4) cognitive outcome(s); (5) analytic approach; and (6) theorized causal pathways. Studies were organized using a 3-tiered social ecological model at interpersonal, community, or policy levels.

RESULTS

Of 7802 non-duplicated articles, 123 studies met inclusion criteria. Eighty-four studies were longitudinal (range 1-28 years) and 16 examined time-varying social environments. When sorted into social ecological levels, 91 studies examined the interpersonal level; 37 examined the community/neighborhood level; 3 examined policy level social environments; and 7 studies examined more than one level.

CONCLUSIONS

Most studies of social environments and cognitive aging and dementia examined interpersonal factors measured at a single point in time. Few assessed time-varying social environmental factors or considered multiple social ecological levels. Future studies can help clarify opportunities for intervention by delineating if, when, and how social environments shape late-life cognitive aging and dementia outcomes.

Association Between Childhood Neighborhood Quality and the Risk of Cognitive Dysfunction in Chinese Middle-Aged and Elderly Population: The Moderation Effect of Body Mass Index

Background: Identification of early modifiable factors is crucial to delay or prevent the development of cognitive impairment and reduce the social and economic burden. Objective: This study aimed to examine the longitudinal associations of childhood neighborhood quality (CNQ) with the risk of later-life cognitive dysfunction and the role of body mass index (BMI) in this association. Methods: A total of 8,289 community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly population from wave 2011, wave 2013, and wave 2015 of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were included. Cognitive function and CNQ were measured by standardized questionnaires. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the associations of CNQ and cognitive function. The interactions of BMI with CNQ in the progress of cognitive function were also estimated. Results: The participants with higher CNQ had a significantly low risk of cognitive impairment than those with lower CNQ score (β = 0.067, 95% CI: 0.031, 0.103), and the results remained similar (β = 0.039, 95% CI: 0.004, 0.075) after controlling other confounding variables. Furthermore, there was an interaction between BMI with CNQ score (P < 0.001) for the risk of cognitive impairment. In BMI-stratified analysis, we found that the association of CNQ and cognitive function was not statistically significant in overweight or obese population (β = 0.019, 95% CI: -0.032, 0.070), but was statistically significant in people with lower BMI (β = 0.059, 95% CI: 0.010, 0.107). Conclusions: Higher CNQ score is significantly associated with the lower risk of cognitive dysfunction in adulthood. BMI may moderate the associations of CNQ with the risk of cognitive function.

Association between socioeconomic status and cognitive functioning among older adults in Ghana

OBJECTIVES

Extensive analysis of the associations between socioeconomic status and cognition has been conducted among older adults. However, it is not clear whether associations in high-income countries are similar in low-and middle-income countries. This research aims to investigate the association between the socioeconomic status of older adults in Ghana and their cognitive function by using a sample of older adults that is nationally representative.

METHODS

Data were obtained from a sample of older Ghanaian adults (50+) from the Study of Global AGEing and Adult Health Wave 1 (n = 3710) of the World Health Organization. Objectively, cognition was measured by verbal recall, verbal fluency, forward digit span, and backward digit span, while variations in cognition overall were evaluated against socioeconomic factors using linear regression.

RESULTS

Older age, older women, rural life, increasing memory difficulty, and being diagnosed with stroke were the most significant determinants of impaired cognitive function. Higher education and higher income were significantly associated with a better cognitive function than those with no formal education and low income.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide new evidence for public health programs in Ghana and other low-and middle-income countries to tackle cognitive impairments in growing populations.

Employer-Sponsored Sports Programs Amid COVID-19: The Approach of Social Capital

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of bridging social capital through sports programs on the job insecurity-well-being relationship.

METHODS

A total of 473 Korean employees participated in a cross-sectional survey in May 2020. Using structural equation modeling, we tested the following hypotheses: (a) job insecurity will partially mediate the relationship between perceived threat and well-being and (b) social capital through sports programs will moderate the relationship between job insecurity and well-being. Socioeconomic status was used as a control variable for well-being.

RESULTS

The hypothesized relationships in the structural model were all significant (P < .001). Bridging social capital through sports programs had a significant moderating effect on the proposed relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Strong bridging social capital through employer-sponsored sports programs is likely to buffer the detrimental effect of job insecurity on employee well-being.

The values and meanings of social activities for older urban men after retirement

Previous studies have indicated that older men often experience disconnection from the community after retirement. Social activities have been shown to be effective in preventing social isolation among older urban men. Nevertheless, it has been reported that they often do not participate in community social activities and tend to be reluctant to do so. We explored the values and meanings of social activities for retired older men living in an urban area of Japan to understand support using social activities that are more suitable for them. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 older men (aged 68–80 years; M = 74.6 ± 3.79 years) about their interactions with family and non-family members, and their participation in various community social activities. The grounded theory approach was used for the analysis. As a result, the following five categories were derived as the values that participants place on the social activities that they engage in: “health as a resource and reward for social activities,” “feeling I am still useful,” “feeling that something is my responsibility,” “feeling of time well spent,” and “finding interest through interactions.” In addition, the following three categories were extracted as meanings of social activities: “fulfilling social life,” “maintaining stable family relationships,” and “maintaining safety and peace in the community.” When considering the social activities that older urban retired men are interested in and likely to participate in, these five values can be considered indicators. In contrast, to maintain stable family relationships and safety and peace in the community, participants sometimes used strategies to stop or abandon social activities. Therefore, in situations where a peaceful life within a family or neighborhood is threatened, it may be useful to help set aside sufficient time and allow for psychological leeway in advance to incorporate social activities into their lives.

Association of parental social network diversity with behaviour problems and resilience of offspring in a large population-based study of Japanese children

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to elucidate the impact of parental social network diversity on the behaviour problems and resilience of offspring.

DESIGN

We used cross-sectional data from the Kochi Child Health Impact of Living Difficulty study in 2016.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Participants were first, fifth and eighth grade children living in Kochi prefecture, Japan (N=9653). We calculated parental social network diversity by counting the number of people with whom parents connected on a daily basis (ie, structural social network diversity) and by assessing perceived psychosocial support (ie, functional social network diversity).

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Child behaviour problems and resilience were respectively assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Child's Resilient Coping Scale (CRCS), as rated by caregivers.

RESULTS

Diversity in parental structural and functional social networks showed an inverse association with SDQ total difficulties score (B=-0.16 (95% CI -0.25 to -0.07) and -0.20 (95% CI -0.27 to -0.13), respectively), and a positive association with prosocial behaviour score (B=0.11 (95% CI 0.08 to 0.15) and 0.09 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.12), respectively) and CRCS score (B=0.75 (95% CI 0.46 to 1.05) and 1.12 (95% CI 0.88 to 1.35), respectively) in the adjusted model. Parental mental health accounted for 36% and 43% of the total effects of structural and functional social network diversity respectively on the total difficulties score. For prosocial behaviour score, parental involvement accounted for 31% of the effects of functional social network diversity.

CONCLUSION

The results shed light on new strategies to enhance child mental health that do not directly involve children but rather focus on parental social networking.

How does social capital affect individual health among the elderly in rural China?-Mediating effect analysis of physical exercise and positive attitude

BACKGROUND

The elderly in rural areas comprise over half of the older population in China, and their health problems are a matter of great concern for the Chinese government and society. Among the many factors affecting health, social capital has generated much interest in academic research. Exploring the relationship between social capital and individual health among the elderly in rural China provides ways to improve the health of Chinese people, which has a positive impact on policy.

METHODS

We selected 3719 respondents from the 2016 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). Structural and cognitive social capital were obtained via exponentiation of variables (mean of zero and a standard deviation of one) and by giving them equal weight. Ordinary least squares (OLS) and two-stage least squares (2SLS) estimators were used to analyze the association between social capital and individual health. We explored the mechanism linking structural and cognitive social capital with individual health through a mediation effect analysis.

RESULTS

After correcting for endogeneity bias, structural social capital had a positive correlation with individual health among the elderly, with a coefficient of 0.062 (95% CI: 0.020-0.104). Cognitive social capital also had a positive correlation with individual health, with a coefficient of 0.097 (95% CI: 0.060-0.135). Physical exercise and positive attitude were two significant mediating variables of the relationship between social capital and individual health in the study group, with mediating effects of 0.018 and 0.054, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive social capital played a stronger role than structural social capital in promoting individual health among the elderly. Physical exercise and positive attitude mediated the relationship between social capital and individual health. Policymakers should not only build basic medical and health care systems but also consistently cultivate and strengthen structural and cognitive social capital among the elderly in rural China.

Social capital, built environment and mental health: a comparison between the local elderly people and the ‘laopiao’ in urban China

In rapidly urbanising China, a high number of elderly people, the so-called ‘laopiao’, float to cities where their sons or daughters live to look after their children and grandchildren. Laopiao in urban China are thought to suffer poor mental health owing to their floating status. This study explores the inter-relationship among social capital, the built environment and mental health in urban China. Using a recent survey conducted in Nanjing (N = 591), structural equation modelling was performed to compare the local elderly people and the laopiao. Results showed that mental health determinants are dissimilar between the two groups of elderly people. Bonding social capital promotes mental health in both groups, while bridging and linking social capital only contributes to the mental health of the laopiao. Also, access to public transportation is positively correlated with mental health in both groups. Furthermore, lower street network density and better access to parks enhance the mental health of the local elderly people, while higher street network density and more open space within a community enhance the mental health of the laopiao. Our findings suggest that different policy measures should be implemented for different groups of elderly people in urban China to improve their mental health.

Sekentei as a Socio-Cultural Determinant of Cognitive Function among Older Japanese People: Findings from the NEIGE Study

Sekentei (social appearance) is a Japanese concept that describes a person’s sense of implicit societal pressure to conform to social norms. However, evidence of a relationship between sekentei and health outcomes is sparse. This study examined the association between sekentei and cognitive function among community-dwelling older Japanese people. Baseline data were obtained from the Neuron to Environmental Impact across Generations (NEIGE) study conducted in 2017; 526 randomly sampled community-dwelling individuals aged 65–84 years living in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan were analyzed. The 12-item Sekentei Scale was used to assess sekentei. Cognitive function levels were evaluated with the Japanese version of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-J; ranging from 0–30). Approximately 10% and 25% had cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment, respectively (MMSE-J scores of ≤23 and 24–26, respectively). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that both high and low levels of sekentei were associated with lower cognitive function, particularly mild cognitive impairment, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, health conditions, and genetic factors. The current findings suggest that a moderate level of sekentei consciousness is beneficial for cognitive health, and that sekentei could be an important socio-cultural factor affecting cognitive function.

Associations between perceived neighborhood environment and cognitive function among middle-aged and older women and men: Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study

PURPOSE

To examine cross-sectional associations between perceived neighborhood environment and cognitive function among middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latino women and men.

METHODS

Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (2008-2011) and its Sociocultural Ancillary Study (2009-2010) were used. Participants were Hispanic/Latino women (n = 1812) and men (n = 1034) aged 45-74 years. Survey-weighted linear regression models were used to examine associations between self-reported perceived neighborhood environment (i.e., neighborhood social cohesion and problems categorized as quintiles, and neighborhood safety from crime categorized as low, medium, or high) with cognitive function (i.e., global cognition, verbal learning, memory, verbal fluency, and processing speed scores) in women and men. Final model adjusted for age, Hispanic/Latino background, language, field site, household income, education, years lived in neighborhood, and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Women in the lowest quintile of perceived neighborhood problems (vs. highest quintile) had higher global cognition (β 0.48, 95% CI 0.03, 0.94, p trend 0.229) and memory scores (0.60, 95% CI 0.11, 1.09, p trend: 0.060). Women in the highest quintile of perceived neighborhood social cohesion (vs. lowest quintile) had lower global cognition (β - 0.56, 95% CI - 1.02, - 0.09, p trend 0.004), verbal learning (B - 1.01, 95% CI - 2.00, - 0.03, p trend 0.015), verbal fluency (B - 2.00, 95% CI - 3.83, - 0.16, p trend 0.006), and processing speed (B - 2.11, 95% CI - 3.87, - 0.36, p trend 0.009). There was no association between perceived neighborhood safety from crime and cognition among women, or between any perceived neighborhood environment measure and cognition among men.

CONCLUSIONS

Middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latina women living in neighborhoods with the lowest perceived problems had higher global cognition and memory. Women living in neighborhoods with the highest perceived social cohesion had lower global cognition, verbal learning, verbal fluency, and processing speed.

Neighborhood-based social capital and cognitive function among older adults in five low- and middle-income countries: Evidence from the World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate which neighborhood-based social capital components are associated with a higher level of cognitive function in LMICs.

METHODS

This international population-based study used cross-sectional survey data from the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), a study of adults aged 50 years or older in China, Ghana, India, the Russian Federation, and South Africa from 2007 through 2010 (N = 29 528). Associations between neighborhood-based social capital indicators (trust in neighbors, perceived neighborhood safety, and community participation) and cognitive function were examined using ordinary least squares regressions and random-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS

Results of the meta-analyses of within-country effects indicated that trust in neighbors were positively associated with cognitive function across India, Russia, and Ghana, but negatively associated in South Africa (β = -0.041, SE = .013, P < .01) and no effect in China (P > .05). The significant effect of perceived neighborhood safety was only found in South Africa (β = 0.051, SE = .007, P < .001) and China (β = 0.030, SE = .005, P < .001). Community participation approached a null effect in South Africa (P > .05).

DISCUSSION

Different indicators of neighborhood-based social capital, which are well-established protective resources for cognitive function, may have varied relationships with cognitive function cross-nationally. This finding provides a better understanding of the mechanisms by which neighborhood social capital may contribute to better cognitive function in LMICs than high-income countries, potentially due to differences in neighborhood environments, health systems, and availability of public resources.

Volunteerism and Cardiovascular Health: The HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to examine the association between volunteerism and favorable cardiovascular health (CVH) among Hispanics/Latinos living in the US.

METHODS

Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (2008-2011) Sociocultural Ancillary Study were used (N = 4,926; ages 18-74 years). Favorable CVH was defined as positive profiles of all major CVD risk factors: low total serum cholesterol, blood pressure, and body mass index; not having diabetes; and not smoking. Survey-weighted logistic regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychological factors. In secondary analyses, we tested whether the volunteerism-CVH association was modified by sex, age, or years lived in the US (<10 vs. ≥10 years; a proxy acculturation measure).

RESULTS

Prevalence of volunteerism was 14.5%. Compared to non-volunteers, volunteers had 1.67 higher odds of favorable CVH in the fully-adjusted model (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.67, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.11, 2.52). There was evidence of effect modification by acculturation; only volunteers who had lived in the US ≥10 years had 2.41 higher odds of favorable CVH (OR = 2.41, 95% CI=1.53, 3.80). There was no evidence of effect modification by sex or age.

CONCLUSIONS

Volunteerism was associated with favorable CVH among US Hispanics/Latinos.

How does bridging social capital relate to health-behavior, overweight and obesity among low and high educated groups? A cross-sectional analysis of GLOBE-2014

Background

Social capital is an important determinant of health, but how specific sub-dimensions of social capital affect health and health-related behaviors is still unknown. To better understand its role for health inequalities, it is important to distinguish between bonding social capital (connections between homogenous network members; e.g. similar educational level) and bridging social capital (connections between heterogeneous network members). In this study, we test the hypotheses that, 1) among low educational groups, bridging social capital is positively associated with health-behavior, and negatively associated with overweight and obesity, and 2) among high educational groups, bridging social capital is negatively associated with health-behavior, and positively with overweight and obesity.

Methods

Cross-sectional data on educational level, health-behavior, overweight and obesity from participants (25–75 years; Eindhoven, the Netherlands) of the 2014-survey of the GLOBE study were used (N = 2702). Social capital (“How many of your close friends have the same educational level as you have?”) was dichotomized as: bridging (‘about half’, ‘some’, or ‘none of my friends’), or bonding (‘all’ or ‘most of my friends’). Logistic regression models were used to study whether bridging social capital was related to health-related behaviors (e.g. smoking, food intake, physical activity), overweight and obesity, and whether these associations differed between low and high educational groups.

Results

Among low educated, having bridging social capital (i.e. friends with a higher educational level) reduced the likelihood to report overweight (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.52–1.03) and obesity (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38–0.88), compared to low educated with bonding social capital. In contrast, among high educated, having bridging social capital (i.e. friends with a lower educational level) increased the likelihood to report daily smoking (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.37–3.27), no leisure time cycling (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.17–2.04), not meeting recommendations for vegetable intake (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.50–2.91), and high meat intake (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.05–1.83), compared to high educated with bonding social capital.

Conclusions

Bridging social capital had differential relations with health-behavior among low and high educational groups. Policies aimed at reducing segregation between educational groups may reduce inequalities in overweight, obesity and unhealthy behaviors.

Social capital and the health of left-behind older adults in rural China: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between social capital and the health of male and female left-behind older adults in rural China.

STUDY DESIGN

This cross-sectional study among the left-behind older adults aged 60 and older and with all their children working outside of Hubei, Shaanxi and Guangdong provinces in China was conducted in 2017-2018. A total of 1106 questionnaires were collected (participation rate=100.0%), and questionnaires from 1016 participants were used (effective rate=91.9%).

METHODS

An ordinary least squares model was used to evaluate the association between social capital and health. Social capital included family trust, friend/neighbour trust, stranger trust, social participation, and network size and density. Health outcomes included basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADL and IADL) and depression.

RESULTS

Elevated family trust, friend/neighbour trust, stranger trust, high-level participation and middle-level network density were associated with reduced depression (b=-3.23, p<0.001; b=-0.41, p<0.001; b=-0.76, p<0.01; b=-1.04, p<0.05; b=-0.74, p<0.05, respectively). High-level participation and network density were also associated with elevated BADL (b=0.16, p<0.05; b=0.24, p<0.05, respectively). Elevated family trust (b=-2.86, p<0.05 in men; b=-3.86, p<0.001 in women), stranger trust (b=-0.68, p<0.05 in men; b=-0.80, p<0.05 in women) and high-level participation (b=-0.92, p<0.05 in men; b=-1.22, p<0.01 in women) were associated with reduced depression in both sexes. By contrast, elevated friend/neighbour trust was associated with reduced depression (b=-0.56, p<0.001) in women, high-level participation was associated with elevated BADL (b=0.19, p<0.05) and IADL (b=0.43, p<0.05) in men, and high-level network density was associated with elevated BADL (b=0.44, p<0.05) and IADL (b=0.57, p<0.05) and reduced depression (b=-1.05, p<0.05) in women.

CONCLUSIONS

Social capital is closely related to left-behind older adults' health in rural China. More attention should be paid to increasing the stock of social capital in this special population, with a particular focus on the sex disparity.

Social capital and physical health: An updated review of the literature for 2007-2018

PURPOSE

Social capital is frequently indicated as a determinant of population health. Despite an increase in the frequency of public health studies including such measures, our understanding of social capital's effects on health remains unclear. In 2008, a systematic review of the "first decade" of research on social capital and health was published in the textbook Social Capital and Health. Our study intends to update and expand upon this original review to account for developments in the literature over the second decade of research on social capital and health.

METHODS

We employed a systematic review of empirical studies investigating the relationship between measures of social capital and physical health outcomes published between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2018. To identify potential studies, we conducted searches of PubMed, Embase, and PsychINFO databases in January 2019 using combinations of "social capital" and "physical health" search terms.

RESULTS

We identified 1,608 unique articles and reviewed 145 studies meeting our inclusion criteria. The most frequently examined health condition was self-reported health (57%), followed by mortality (12%), cardiovascular diseases (10%), obesity (7%), diabetes (6%), infectious diseases (5%), and cancers (3%). Of these studies, 127 (88%) reported at least partial support for a protective association between social capital and health. However, only 41 (28%) reported exclusively positive findings. The majority (59%) of results were mixed, suggesting a nuanced relationship between social capital and health. This finding could also be indicative of differences in study design, which showed substantial variation.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite limitations in the literature, our review chronicles an evolution in the field of social capital and health in terms of size and sophistication. Overall, these studies suggest that social capital may be an important protective factor for some physical health outcomes, but further research is needed to confirm and clarify these findings.

Ageing well: evaluation of social participation and quality of life tools to enhance community aged care (study protocol)

Background

Several outcome measures can be utilised to measure social participation and Quality of Life (QoL) in research and clinical practice. However there have been few large-scale trials of these tools in community care to identify their value to clients and providers. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the Australian Community Participation Questionnaire (ACPQ) and the ICEpop CAPability measure for Older people (ICECAP-O) as tools to measure social participation and QoL for clients receiving community aged care services. The specific research questions focus on determining: (1) the levels and predictors of social participation and QoL among older adults using community aged care services; (2) the acceptability and feasibility of implementation of ACPQ and ICECAP-O tools into routine community aged care assessments; (3) if implementation of the tools change service provision and outcomes for older adults receiving community aged care services.

Methods

A mixed method design will be used to collect data from a large Australian aged care provider. Community aged care clients’ ACPQ and ICECAP-O scores, as well as other key outcomes (e.g. services used, hospitalisation and admission to permanent residential care), will be examined at baseline and 12-monthly follow-up assessments. Interviews and focus groups with community aged care clients and staff who administer the tools will also be completed. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression will be used to examine the levels and predictors of social participation and QoL. Thematic analysis of interviews and focus groups will be used to determine the acceptability and feasibility of implementing the ACPQ and ICECAP-O into routine needs assessments in community aged care. Case-controlled analyses will be used to determine whether the implementation of the ACPQ and ICECAP-O changes service use and outcomes.

Discussion

The novel use of the ACPQ and the ICECAP-O tools as part of routine needs assessments for community aged care clients has the potential to improve the quality and effectiveness of community aged care services and outcomes.

Trial registration

Australian and New Zealand clinical trial registry number: ACTRN12617001212347. Registered 18/08/2017

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12877-019-1094-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Main and interactive effects of inflammation and perceived neighbourhood cohesion on psychological distress: results from a population-based study in the UK

Purpose

Low neighbourhood cohesion and increased levels of inflammation are independent predictors of psychological distress. In this study we explored if they also interact to predict it.

Methods

Our sample was 9,393 adult participants of the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS), a large longitudinal household panel study in the UK. Inflammation was measured using C-reactive protein levels. Perceived neighbourhood cohesion was measured using a 13-item questionnaire. Psychological distress was measured with the General Health Questionnaire-12.

Results

Perceived neighbourhood cohesion and inflammation retained their significant main effects on psychological distress even after adjustment for confounders (age, gender, ethnicity, partner status, education, smoking status, obesity and urbanicity). The effect of neighbourhood cohesion was larger. However, we did not find evidence for an interactive association between the two.

Conclusions

Perceived neighbourhood cohesion was inversely related to psychological distress, over and above other important person- and neighbourhood-level characteristics. Inflammation was also associated with psychological distress, albeit less strongly. If these associations are causal, they suggest that promoting neighbourhood cohesion can alleviate some of the burden associated with psychological distress.

Social capital: Implications for neurology

Social capital (SC) is a broad term that encompasses the many resources derived from social connections. The contemporary study of SC in public health has deep roots in the related fields of sociology, economics, and politics. Its multidisciplinary nature and the varying potential ways it could affect individuals have resulted in different but overlapping models to approach SC in the health field. There are currently no standardized measures of SC, and even more challenging its impact on health outcomes seems to vary according to the level of analysis. Despite the accumulating evidence that supports a protective effect of SC on mental and physical health, and mortality, not enough attention has been paid to the potential drawbacks of SC. The role of SC in neurological disease is just beginning to be explored. Concerted efforts are needed to ensure that empirical evidence on SC could be properly translated into interventions for health-promoting purposes. In this paper, we review the current state of scientific knowledge on the subject of SC, with a focus on its application in the field of neurology.

Network-based and cohesion-based social capital and variations in depressive symptoms among Taiwanese adults

BACKGROUND

Network- and cohesion-based social capital may play an important role in improving mental health. However, there is limited understanding about these relationships among adults in Taiwan.

AIM

The aim of this study was to examine the association between individual-level network and cohesion-based social capital and depressive symptoms among a population-based sample of Taiwanese adults.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the 1997 Taiwan Social Change Survey (n = 2,598). The 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptom scores; ⩾16 represented high depressive symptoms. Network-based social capital was measured using a position generator. Two dimensions of cohesion-based social capital were assessed: cognitive (perceived neighborhood trust and reciprocity) and structural (local community participation and organizational participation). Multivariable log-binomial regression models, weighted to account for the complex sampling design and adjusted for confounders, estimated prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to examine the association between each social capital measure and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

In this study, 29.6% of respondents were classified as having high depressive symptom scores. Higher scores of composite cognitive social capital (adjusted Prevalence Ratios (aPR)  = 0.92, 95% CI = [0.90, 0.95]) and structural social capital (aPR = 0.80, 95% CI = [0.65, 0.99]) were associated with a lower likelihood of high depressive symptom scores after controlling for confounders. However, there was no association between network social capital and depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the relationship between social capital and depressive symptoms in Taiwan differs according to the specific dimension of social capital assessed. Differentiating between network- and cohesion-based social capital merits greater attention to inform our understanding of building social capital to promote and improve mental health outcomes.

Community-level social capital, parental psychological distress, and child physical abuse: a multilevel mediation analysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between community-level social capital and physical abuse towards children, and the mediating effect of parental psychological distress by multilevel mediation analyses.

METHODS

We analyzed data from a population-based study of first-grade elementary school children (6-7 years old) in Adachi City, Tokyo, Japan. The caregivers of first-grade students from all elementary schools in Adachi City (N = 5355) were asked to respond to a questionnaire assessing parents' self-reported physical abuse (beating and hitting) and neighborhood social capital. Among them, 4291 parents returned valid responses (response rate 80.1%). We performed multilevel analyses to determine the relationships between community-level parental social capital and physical abuse, and further multilevel mediation analyses were performed to determine whether parental psychological distress mediated the association.

RESULTS

Low community-level social capital was positively associated with physical abuse (both beating and hitting) after adjustment for other individual covariates (beating: middle, OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.11-2.13; low, OR = 1.33, 95% CI 0.94-1.88; and hitting: middle, OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.02-1.80; low, OR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.86-1.57). Multilevel mediation analyses revealed that community-level parental psychological distress did not mediate the association (indirect effect ß = 0.10, 95% CI - 0.10 to 0.29, p = 0.34 for beating; ß = 0.03, 95% CI - 0.16 to 0.23, p = 0.74 for hitting).

CONCLUSIONS

Fostering community-level social capital might be important for developing a strategy to prevent child maltreatment, which may have a direct impact on abusive behavior towards children.

Integrating social engagement instruments into Australian community aged care assessments to enhance service provision

Rich social relationships contribute to improved well-being and health outcomes, yet aged care client assessments tend to focus almost exclusively on physical issues. We aim to explore the experiences of aged care staff following their use of social engagement and well-being instruments as part of routine assessments for home-care clients. The social engagement (Australian Community Participation Questionnaire, ACPQ) and well-being (ICEpop CAPability Measure for Older Adults, ICECAP-O) instruments were embedded into the centralised information system of an Australian aged care provider. Staff administered these instruments during routine client assessments across a 9-month period involving 289 assessments. Semistructured interviews with 12 staff members were conducted and themes explored using qualitative content analysis. Key factors related to the acceptability of instrument adoption were found. Staff reported the instruments were convenient to use and were valuable in eliciting information for care plan development. Staff found that the instruments complemented their standard assessment procedures and did not disrupt their routine workload. They emphasised that the information gained greatly assisted their discussions with clients, identified social needs, and enhanced client involvement in decisions about desired services. There were also some challenging elements, including staff concerns regarding their ability to deal with emotional responses from clients evoked by the survey questions. ACPQ and ICECAP-O are useful tools for identifying psychosocial client needs, are feasible for use by large-scale aged care organisations and provide valuable information to guide decision-making about services. Future research should identify the long-term effects on improving social participation and client outcomes.

Neighborhood environments and self-rated health in Mainland China, Japan and South Korea

Neighborhood environments are considered crucial determinants of self-rated health. Previous research has documented a positive association between the quality of neighborhood environments and health status. However, the relationship between neighborhood environments and health status in East Asian countries has received far less attention. This study examined the relationship between the three main types of neighborhood environments (built, natural, and social) and self-rated health in Mainland China, Japan, and South Korea. It also compared the neighborhood effects on self-rated health across the three countries. Our analytical sample included 3,675, 2,390, and 1,500 respondents in China, Japan, and South Korea respectively from the 2010 East Asian Social Survey. Ordinal Logistic Regression models were estimated for each country and the country differences were tested. This study found that neighborhood built, natural and social environments are positively associated with self-rated health in China, Japan and South Korea. These effects vary somewhat by country, and neighborhood social environment has the strongest association with self-rated health in Japan, followed by South Korea and then China. The similar relationship between perceived neighborhood environments and self-rated health across the three countries underscores the prevalent impact of perceived neighborhood environments on health. The greater association between social environment and self-rated health in Japan suggests the greater need of community based support system in an aging society not only for the older people, but also for the general population, especially those who are living in poor neighborhood social environment.

Is community social capital associated with subjective symptoms of dementia among older people? A cross-sectional study in Japan

AIM

Many studies have reported the preventive effects of community social capital on health outcomes, such as mortality and incidence of diseases. However, evidence on the association between community social capital and dementia-related outcomes remains sparse. The present study examined the contextual association of social capital with subjective symptoms of dementia among community-dwelling older adults in Japan, using a population-based, large-scale questionnaire survey.

METHODS

Data were used from a cross-sectional survey for all community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years in Adachi Ward, Tokyo (n = 132 005). Subjective dementia symptoms were assessed using a self-administered dementia checklist, which was validated by the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale. Social capital was assessed by neighborhood cohesion (neighborhood trust, neighborhood attachment and sense of belonging to the neighborhood) and neighborhood network (i.e. social relationships with neighbors). Individual responses from each district were aggregated to create indicators of district-level social capital.

RESULTS

A total of 75 338 questionnaires were analyzed (covering 260 districts). The average age of participants was 73.8 ± 6.0 years (45.0% men). A multilevel binomial logistic regression analysis by sex showed that a denser neighborhood network in a district was associated with a lower likelihood of subjective dementia symptoms (odds ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval 0.83-0.96) among women. No association was found for men between district-level social capital and subjective dementia symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Fostering structural aspects of social capital in a community is a potential dementia-prevention strategy, and policymakers should focus on such community-based approaches as well as on approaches that target individuals. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1537-1542.

Contribution of social relationships to self-rated health among Japanese community-dwelling elderly

Objective: Participation in social activities is associated with physical and psychological health in the community-dwelling elderly population. We examined the two factors of social relations and community health resources, associated with higher self-rated health levels in the community-dwelling elderly.

Methods: A total of 145 community-dwelling elderly people ≥ 65 years old from two neighborhood associations in Nagasaki City were recruited for this study, representing 85% of the officially registered ≥ 65-year-old population in the target area. Face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire were conducted by trained interviewers in August 2009, with questions related to sociodemographic characteristics, social relationships, and self-rated health (SRH). Community health resources (type and walking distance from home) were evaluated by one of the authors as a community assessment.

Results: Seventy-eight community-dwelling elderly people (25 men and 53 women) participated in the study. Elderly people who reported going out every day were more likely to show higher SRH scores (excellent/good) than those going out less often (OR: 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0, 14.2; P = 0.056). The numbers of interactions with friends in higher and lower SRH groups were 6.5 ± 8.4 (mean ± standard deviation) and 2.4 ± 1.1 (P = 0.01, Mann-Whitney U test), respectively. The numbers of relatives talking on the phone in higher and lower SRH groups were 2.9 ± 1.3 and 2.2 ± 1.2 (P = 0.031, Mann-Whitney U test), respectively. Meeting scores with friends in higher and lower SRH groups were 7.8 ± 5.8 and 4.5 ± 3.6 (P = 0.068), respectively. The scores of community health resources among higher and lower SRH groups were 21.2 ± 1.5 and 20.9 ± 1.4 (P = 0.547), respectively. The scores of community association/activities in higher and lower SRH groups were 3.9 ± 1.0 and 3.6 ± 0.9 (P = 0.227), respectively.

Conclusion: This study indicated the importance of interaction with friends and relatives for maintaining higher SRH among community-dwelling elderly people.

Epstein-Barr virus antibody titer as a stress biomarker and its association with social capital in rural Fujian communities, China

OBJECTIVES

There has been little research on the association between social capital and psychological stress measured by a biomarker, particularly in developing countries. Our objective was to investigate the association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody titer, an indicator of cellular immune function previously shown to be associated with psychological stress, and social capital among rural community dwellers in Fujian Province, China.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey in seven rural communities in Fujian in 2015. We used questionnaire data and dried blood spot samples for the measurement of biomarkers collected from 734 local residents for the analysis. We conducted a mixed effects regression analysis to investigate the association between EBV antibody titer and four social capital variables, which included cognitive and structural social capital assessed both at individual and community levels.

RESULTS

Community-level structural social capital was inversely associated with psychological stress (coefficient = -0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.91, -0.01) while individual-level structural social capital was positively associated with it (coefficient = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.07, 0.36). Neither individual- nor community-level cognitive social capital was associated with psychological stress status.

CONCLUSIONS

In rural Fujian, China, social capital seemed to be an important determinant of psychological health. While living in a community with active social interaction may benefit the residents psychologically, social interaction in the form of strongly bonded relationships may be a source of psychological stress at the individual level due to the potential demands and obligations that may be associated with such connections.

Social capital, socioeconomic status, and depression in community-living elderly

A growing body of evidence has suggested that social capital is an upstream social determinant of mental health. We investigated the association of cognitive social capital, including interpersonal trust and reciprocity, with depressive symptoms in the elderly. We also explored the mediating role of cognitive social capital in the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and depressive symptoms and the moderating effect of SES on the relationship between social capital and depressive symptoms. Data from the 2012 Korea Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS) was analyzed for 5969 participants aged 60 years or older. Cognitive components of social capital, including interpersonal trust and reciprocity, were evaluated using single-item questionnaires. Socioeconomic and health-related characteristics were investigated and depressive symptoms were evaluated by an 11-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Low interpersonal trust and reciprocity levels were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in the elderly. Reciprocity level mediated the association between household income level and depressive symptoms. We did not observe any significant moderating effect of SES on the association between cognitive social capital and depressive symptoms. A significant association between cognitive social capital and depressive symptoms in Korean elderly was found. We elucidated how SES interacted with depressive symptoms through the mediation pathway of cognitive social capital using a representative sample of the Korean elderly population.

Social Capital and Health Among Older Chinese Immigrants: a Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Sample in a Canadian Prairie City

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between social capital and health among Chinese immigrants. The sample included 101 older Chinese immigrants aged 60 to 96 who were recruited in 2013 in a city on the Canadian prairies. Participant completed a questionnaire assessing their structural and cognitive social capital (views on community, trust and reciprocity, civic participation, social networks and support, and social participation), physical and mental health status (SF-36), and sociodemographic characteristics. Findings indicate that Chinese seniors overall obtained low levels of social capital on all social capital dimensions. Social networks and support (a structural social capital indicator) was significantly positively associated with mental health (β = .31, p < .01), particularly among older Chinese immigrants and among Chinese women (both β = .51, p < .01). Civic participation was also associated with mental health, albeit negatively, among female participants (β = .35, p < .05). These findings suggest that ensuring structural social capital is potentially more promising than ensuring cognitive social capital in terms of providing physical and mental health benefits to older adults from Chinese background.

Changes in social capital and depressive states of middle-aged adults in Japan

The present study examines the relationships between changes in bonding and bridging types of social capital and depressive states among middle-aged adults in Japan using a nationally representative sample. Data was collected from a nationwide, population-based survey conducted from 2005 to 2013 in nine annual waves. A total of 16,737 middle-aged men and 17,768 middle-aged women provided data. They reported about depressive states, measured by Kessler 6 scores, and bonding and bridging types of social capital, measured by reported participation in different social activities. Latent growth modeling was conducted to examine relations between changes in bonding and bridging types of social capital and depressive states within individuals across the nine waves. The results showed that, for both men and women, increases in bonding social capital were associated with decreases in depressive states, while changes in bridging social capital were not related to changes in depressive states. In addition, the results showed that changes in bonding social capital, but not bonding social capital at the baseline, affected changes in depressive states. Future studies should take changes in social capital as an independent variable into consideration.

High social trust associated with increased depressive symptoms in a longitudinal South African sample

Several studies have documented a protective association between social trust and mental and physical health, but gaps in knowledge remain. Debates regarding the contextual versus individual nature of social trust are ongoing; research from low- and middle-income countries is lacking, and study designs have been limited for causal inference. To address these gaps, we examined the association between social trust and depressive symptoms using three waves of the National Income Dynamics Study, a longitudinal South African survey. We used individual fixed-effects models to assess the association between changes in scores on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Short Form (CES-D-10) and in individual-level and district-level personalized and generalized trust among 15,670 individuals completing at least two waves of the NIDS adult questionnaire. High individual-level generalized trust was unexpectedly associated with increased depressive symptoms scores while district generalized trust did not show an association. We also found a cross-level interaction between individual and district-level personalized trust. High individual trust was associated with increased depressive symptoms scores when district trust was low; however, as district-level trust increased, higher individual trust was associated with reduced depressive symptoms. Our unexpected results suggest that trust may not always be beneficial for depressive symptoms, but rather, that its effects may depend on context. In the South African setting where social trust is low, being very likely to trust may be associated with worse depressive symptoms in some circumstances.

Neighborhood Environment and Cognition in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Some evidence suggests that treating vascular risk factors and performing mentally stimulating activities may delay cognitive impairment onset in older adults. Exposure to a complex neighborhood environment may be one mechanism to help delay cognitive decline.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Global database were systematically reviewed, identifying 25 studies published from February 1, 1989 to March 5, 2016 (data synthesized, May 3, 2015 to October 7, 2016). The review was restricted to quantitative studies focused on: (1) neighborhood social and built environment and cognition; and (2) community-dwelling adults aged ≥45 years.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The majority of studies were cross-sectional, U.S.-based, and found at least one significant association. The diversity of measures and neighborhood definitions limited the synthesis of findings in many instances. Evidence was moderately strong for an association between neighborhood SES and cognition, and modest for associations between neighborhood demographics, design, and destination accessibility and cognition. Most studies examining effect modification found significant associations, with some evidence for effect modification of the neighborhood SES-cognition association by individual-level SES. No studies had low risk of bias and many tested multiple associations that increased the chance of a statistically significant finding. Considering the studies to date, the evidence for an association between neighborhood characteristics and cognition is modest.

CONCLUSIONS

Future studies should include longitudinal measures of neighborhood characteristics and cognition; examine potential effect modifiers, such as sex and disability; and study mediators that may help elucidate the biological mechanisms linking neighborhood environment and cognition.

Social capital in Japan: What characteristics do public health nurses see in their communities?

AIM

A concept of social capital that accounts for a community's cultural background and incorporates social capital into public health nursing practice are needed. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of social capital in the context of public health nursing in Japan.

METHODS

The study interviewed 11 veteran public health nurses from five municipalities across Japan and undertook a qualitative research analysis. A digital voice recorder was used to collect qualitative data by using a background data sheet and semistructured interviews. Trustworthiness in interpreting the data was ensured by conducting 13 additional interviews with residents and collating the two sets of results.

RESULTS

All the participants were female: 10 were veterans with ≥15 years' experience. Nine worked in management. The methods yielded six categories: (i) the richness of the interactions among the residents; (ii) the community residents who showed concern for those in need; (iii) community civic activities; (iv) the residents' willingness to contribute to the community; (v) the health promotion volunteers who work alongside the public health nurses; and (vi) an enriched community environment.

CONCLUSION

The results contribute to an understanding of social capital in the context of public health nursing activities and further research on social capital. It also is discussed how social capital can be incorporated into public health nursing activities in the future.

Does Racial/Ethnic Identity Influence the Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker Intervention for African American and Latino Adults With Type 2 Diabetes?

Background. Community health worker (CHW) interventions are known to be an effective strategy to improve health behaviors and outcomes in relation to diabetes, particularly for racial/ethnic communities. Although understanding the function of identity with same race/ethnicity among clients of CHW interventions could contribute to more effective program design, few studies have explored whether levels of racial/ethnic identity among participants can influence the effectiveness of CHW interventions. Aims. We tested the relationship between level of racial/ethnic identity and changes in hemoglobin A1c and diabetes self-efficacy among low-income African American and Latino adults with type 2 diabetes who participated in a CHW intervention. Methods. Data came from a randomized controlled trial of the CHW intervention with a 6-month delayed control group design for 164 African American and Latino adults in Detroit, Michigan. Racial/ethnic identity was created from two items and classified into high, moderate, and low. We combined the two arms (immediate and delayed) into one because there was no significant difference in baseline characteristics, other than age and postintervention self-efficacy, and multivariable linear regression models were applied in the analysis. Results. Possession of high racial/ethnic identity was associated with greater improvement both in hemoglobin A1c and diabetes self-efficacy at 6 months. Moreover, among those with high hemoglobin A1c at preintervention, higher racial/ethnic identity had a greater impact on hemoglobin A1c improvement, compared with those with lower identity. Conclusions. This study suggests the importance of considering racial/ethnic identity of the participants in designing and operating the CHW intervention for racial/ethnic minority population.

How does social capital matter to the health status of older adults? Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey

This paper uses longitudinal data from China to examine the causal relationship between structural social capital and health among Chinese older adults. We employ various econometric strategies to control for the potential endogeneity of social capital and account for the possible contextual confounding effects by including community-level social capital. We use three indicators to measure individuals' general, physical, and mental health. Results indicate that social capital has a significant and positive effect on general and physical health. Based on our primary IV findings, a one standard-deviation increase in social capital leads to a 4.9 standard-deviation decrease in the probability of having bad health and a 2.2 standard-deviation decrease in physical activity limitations. Our results are robust to a series of sensitivity checks. Further analysis suggests heterogeneous effects by age but not by gender or area of residence.

Gender differences in the association between cognitive social capital, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms: a comparative analysis of Sweden and Ukraine

Background

Social capital is one of the social determinants of health, but there is still a lack of studies comparing its significance for health in different cultural settings. This study investigates and compares the relations between individual cognitive social capital and depressive symptoms and self-rated health in Sweden and Ukraine for men and women separately.

Study design

Two cross-sectional nationally representative surveys of adult populations were used for the analysis. Data from the Ukraine’s World Health Survey and the Sweden’s National Public Health Survey were analyzed in this comparative study.

Methods

The independent variable, cognitive social capital, was operationalized as institutional trust and feelings of safety. Depressive symptoms and self-rated health were used as the outcome variables. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and the 95 % confidence intervals were calculated using logistic regression. The model also adjusted for socio-demographic and lifestyle variables.

Results

Institutional trust is higher in Sweden compared to Ukraine (31 % of the Swedes vs. 12 % of the Ukrainians reported high trust to their national government/parliament). There is a strong association between self-rated health and institutional trust for both sexes in Sweden (odds ratio/OR = 1.99; 95 % CI = 1.58–2.50 for women and OR = 1.82, CI = 1.48–2.24 for men who reported low institutional trust compared with those with high institutional trust) but only for women (OR = 1.88, CI = 1.12–3.15) in Ukraine. Trust thus seems to be more important for self-rated health of women and men in Sweden compared to their counterparts in Ukraine. Significant associations between depressive symptoms and institutional trust were not observed in either country after adjusting for socio-demographic and lifestyle factors. A lack of feeling of safety increased the odds of having depressive symptoms among women (OR = 1.97, CI = 1.41–2.76) and men (OR = 3.91, CI = 2.19–6.97) in Sweden. The same association was observed for poor self-rated health among Swedish women (OR = 2.15, CI = 1.55–2.99) and men (OR = 2.75, CI = 1.58–4.80). In Ukraine, a lack of feeling of safety did not show any significant association with self-rated health or depressive symptoms for men, but it increased the odds of depressive symptoms among women (OR = 1.72, CI = 1.13–2.62).

Conclusions

In general, individual cognitive social capital is higher in Sweden than in Ukraine, and there is a stronger association between cognitive social capital and self-rated health in Sweden than in Ukraine. Interventions aiming to increase cognitive social capital for health promoting purposes might be favorable in Sweden, but this is not evidently the case in Ukraine.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13033-016-0068-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Community-Based Study of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Cognitive Function in Wuhan, China

The present study aimed to detect the association between social capital and cognitive function in elderly residents with/without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Wuhan, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted for data collection in 2014. A sample of 1156 participants entered the study. Cognitive function was assessed using the Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. A modified instrument scale was used to measure bonding and bridging social capital. The results indicated that participants without MCI had higher social capital scores (45.2 ± 8.3) than those with MCI (37.0 ± 6.3; P < .001). With adjustments for relevant confounders, the multiple logistic regression model showed that participants with a bonding social capital score that ranged from 17 to 24 had an odds ratio (OR) for MCI of 0.38 (95% CI = 0.04-0.79); those with a score that ranged from 25 to 32 had an OR for MCI of 0.36 (95% CI = 0.04-0.70); and those with scores ≥33 had an OR for MCI of 0.25 (95% CI = 0.03-0.53). In conclusion, we found a statistically significant inverse association between bonding social capital and MCI, which suggests that shortage of social resource from homogeneous social networks might be associated with cognitive decline.

The 2008 financial crisis: Changes in social capital and its association with psychological wellbeing in the United Kingdom - A panel study

The global financial crisis of 2008 was described by the IMF as the worst recession since the Great Depression. This historic event provided the backdrop to this United Kingdom (UK) longitudinal study of changes in associations between social capital and psychological wellbeing. Past longitudinal studies have reported that the presence of social capital may buffer against adverse mental health outcomes. This study adds to existing literature by employing data from the British Household Panel Survey and tracking the same individuals (N = 11,743) pre- and immediately post-crisis (years 2007-09). With longitudinal, multilevel logistic regression modelling, we aimed to compare the buffering effects of individual-level social capital (generalised trust and social participation) against worse psychological wellbeing (GHQ-12) during and immediately after the 2008 financial crisis. After comparing the same individuals over time, results showed that stocks of social capital (generalised trust) were significantly depleted across the UK during the crisis, from 40% trusting others in 2007 to 32% in 2008. Despite this drop, the buffering effect of trust against worse psychological wellbeing was pronounced in 2008; those not trusting had an increased risk of worse psychological wellbeing in 2008 compared with the previous year in fully adjusted models (OR = 1.49, 95% CI (1.34-1.65). Levels of active participation increased across the timeframe of this study but were not associated with psychological health. From our empirical evidence, decision makers should be made aware of how events such as the crisis (and the measures taken to counter its effects) could negatively impact on a Nation's trust levels. Furthermore, past research implies that the positive effects of trust on psychological wellbeing evident in this study may only be short-term; therefore, decision makers should also prioritise policies that restore trust levels to improve the psychological wellbeing of the population.

Can Geographic Bridging Social Capital Improve the Health of People Who Live in Deprived Urban Neighborhoods?

The growing number of people living in deprived urban neighborhoods, which often have unhealthy environments, is of growing concern to inequality researchers. Social capital could be a resource to help such communities get ahead. In this study, we examined the differential effects of bonding and bridging social capital on self-rated health using two operational definitions, which we call personal and geographic social capital. Bonding and bridging social capital were operationally distinguished as respondents' perceived similarity to other members of a group with respect to personal characteristics (personal social capital) or as structural similarity with respect to geographical location (geographic social capital). The results showed that although both bonding and bridging social capital as defined by person-based criteria were associated with increased odds of self-rated health compared to those who reported zero participation, when defined by place-based criteria, only bridging social capital was associated with increased odds of self-rated health; no clear association was found between health and belonging to groups within the neighborhood, so-called geographic bonding social capital. The present study suggests that geographic bridging social capital can function as linking social capital that enables an upward approach depending on the political and economic contexts of urbanization.