Medicine (United States)
Volume 97, Issue 4, 2018

Association between social capital and quality of life among urban residents in less developed cities of western China (Article) (Open Access)

Gao B. , Yang S. , Liu X. , Ren X. , Liu D. , Li N.*
  • a Department of Health Related Social and Behavioral Science, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, No.16 of South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
  • b Department of Health Related Social and Behavioral Science, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, No.16 of South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
  • c Department of Health Related Social and Behavioral Science, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, No.16 of South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
  • d Department of Health Related Social and Behavioral Science, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, No.16 of South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
  • e Department of Health Related Social and Behavioral Science, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, No.16 of South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, China
  • f Department of Health Related Social and Behavioral Science, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, No.16 of South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, China

Abstract

China has experienced rapid urbanization over the past several decades. Social capital is considered a vital human resource, and quality of life (QoL) is an important measure of human health embedded in a physical, mental, and social context. No studies have reported on the association between social capital and QoL in Chinese urban residents. We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate social capital in urban community residents of West China, and its relationship with QoL. Our study was carried out between June and July of 2015. A total of 1136 households were surveyed. The Chinese-translated version of the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) and social capital questionnaire were used to evaluate people's QoL and social capital. Associations between QoL and social capital were evaluated by 3 logistic regression analyses. A total of 1136 adult participants aged 18 years and older completed the questionnaire. Young residents were more likely to have lower second (SC2), third (SC3), and fourth (SC4) dimensions of social capital. Migrants and residents with higher education levels and high incomes showed lower SC1 and SC2 relative to other participants, and employed residents had relatively low SC1. Unmarried residents had lower SC2 and SC3. Without adjustment for potential confounding factors, participants with higher SC2 had higher average scores for mental components (MCS) of QoL [odds ratio (OR) = 1.48, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.09-2.02], and the same was seen for SC3 (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.24-2.34). After adjusting for socioeconomic status (SES) and risk factors, SC2 and SC3 were still significantly associated with MCS. Social capital was not significantly associated with physical components of QoL in any of the 3 logistic regression models. In conclusion, social capital is related to MCS of QoL, and increasing it may be an effective way to promote health. Copyright © 2018 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

Author Keywords

urban community residents Quality of life Social capital

Index Keywords

urban population China educational status household social capital human middle aged Asian continental ancestry group statistics and numerical data priority journal Aged Health Surveys family size Family Characteristics Cross-Sectional Studies marriage quality of life Young Adult social status migrant cross-sectional study psychology Adolescent Humans male female Aged, 80 and over very elderly risk factor Cities Article city employment status adult social class Short Form 12 employment highest income group health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041250006&doi=10.1097%2fMD.0000000000009656&partnerID=40&md5=bec223691bbf018a536905e948732e7a
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000009656
ISSN: 00257974
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English