Social capital and well-being of the elderly 'left-behind' by their migrant children in India

The mediating role of psychological capital in health behaviors among elderly nursing home residents

Objective

This study aims to explore the interactions between social capital, positive psychological capital, and health-promoting behaviors among elderly residents in nursing homes in the Xiangxi region of China.

Methods

A random cluster sampling method was employed to select elderly individuals from 27 nursing homes in the Xiangxi area. Data were collected using the general information questionnaire, the Social Capital Scale, the Positive Psychological Capital Scale, and the Health-Promoting Behaviors Scale. The mediating role of positive psychological capital between social capital and health-promoting behaviors was analyzed.

Results

A total of 341 questionnaires were collected from 27 nursing homes. The data reveals mean scores of 46.83 ± 10.26 for social capital, 72.48 ± 6.39 for positive psychological capital, and 68.25 ± 10.85 for health-promoting behaviors. Mediation analysis shows that the total effect of social capital on health-promoting behaviors was 0.800 (95% CI: 0.726, 0.873), with a direct effect of 0.478 (95% CI: 0.379, 0.577), accounting for 59.75% of the total effect. The indirect effect, mediated by positive psychological capital, was 0.321 (95% CI: 0.233, 0.409), contributing to 40.13% of the total effect.

Conclusion

Positive psychological capital acts as a mediating variable between social capital and health-promoting behaviors. Future interventions designed to enhance health-promoting behaviors must consider both social and psychological capitals to fully leverage their interplay and further promote healthy aging.

The impact of digital social capital on the health of older adults: A moderated mediation effect test

Purpose

Older adults are struggling in the digital age due to lower digital literacy and other reasons. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between digital social capital, digital divide, learning ability, and health of older adults.

Methods

This study used data from the China General Social Survey (CGSS) to systematically analyze effects of digital social capital on the health of older adults using the moderated mediated effect test.

Results

Digital social capital has a significant positive effect on the health of older adults and significant household and regional heterogeneity. Internet usage has a mediating impact between social capital and the health of older adults. Learning ability positively moderates the effect of internet usage on the health of older adults, but negatively moderates the impact of digital social capital on internet usage. Learning ability moderates the mediating effect of internet usage between social capital and the health of older adults. The stronger the learning ability, the stronger the mediating effect of internet usage between social capital and health of older adults.

Conclusion

Digital social capital can promote the health of older adults, and internet usage and learning ability can play mediating and moderating roles in the process of digital social capital affecting the health of older adults, revealing that we should cultivate the digital social capital of older adults and improve the digital ability of older adults to improve their health.