Social capital is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various dimensions of social life.
Putnam (2000, p. 19) defines social capital as:
‘‘… connections among individuals—social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them.’’
Given the elusive nature of the concept, academic researchers have employed a wide range of variables, such as participation, trust, and a sense of belonging, as proxies for social capital in their empirical studies.
Social scientists have endeavored to understand the relationship between social capital and human well-being, both at the individual level and the communal or national level. Below, we will delve into some illustrative examples.
Vega-Tinoco et al. (2022) found that civic participation, which refers to the actions taken by ordinary citizens to influence the processes that affect them and their environment, has a beneficial impact on health, happiness, and life satisfaction. This effect is likely due to the fact that civic engagement fosters community ties (Villar & Serrat, 2014) and enhances individuals’ mental health through social connectedness (Saeri et al., 2018).
Tuominen and Haanpää (2022) investigated the connection between the social capital of young people aged 12-13, as measured by their social networks, trust, and norms of reciprocity, and their subjective well-being. The findings indicate that all three dimensions of social capital have a positive and significant relationship with subjective well-being, with “trust” emerging as the most robust predictor of well-being.
Portela et al. (2013) found that social capital at both the aggregate level and its individual components, including social networks, social trust, and institutional trust (which refers to trust in governments, political authorities, or other social institutions), are positively linked to individual well-being.
Research using national- or community-level data also reveals a positive relationship between social capital and well-being.
For example, Inglehart and Klingemann (2000) found that the aggregate level of generalized trust is positively associated with national happiness.
In their study, Wang and Steiner (2020) measured social capital at the community level using trust, civic attitudes, and two different network perspectives. The findings showed that social capital has a positive impact on firm performance, which the authors attributed to the resources entrepreneurs can access through their personal networks. These resources help enhance their firms’ competitiveness, ultimately benefiting the collective well-being of the community.
Taken together, the findings from academic studies exploring the link between social capital and well-being revealed a positive relationship. The growing body of research in this field highlights the importance of fostering social connections and investing in community-building initiatives as a means of promoting individual and collective well-being. As we continue to grapple with the ongoing challenges of a rapidly changing world, the role of social capital in shaping our lives and our communities will undoubtedly remain an important area of inquiry and exploration for years to come.
References:
Inglehart, R. F., Klingemann, H.-D., (2000) “Genes, Culture, Democracy and Happiness”, in: Ed Diener, E.M. Suh (Hg.), Subjective Well-Being Across Cultures, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press 2000, S. 165-183
Portela, M., Neira, I., & Salinas-Jiménez, M.M. (2013). Social Capital and Subjective Wellbeing in Europe: A New Approach on Social Capital. Social Indicators Research, 114(2), 493–511. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-012-0158-x
Putnam, R.D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon and Schuster, New York. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/358916.361990
Saeri, A. K., Cruwys, T., Barlow, F. K., Stronge, S., & Sibley, C. G. (2018). Social connectedness improves public mental health: Investigating bidirectional relationships in the New Zealand attitudes and values survey. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52(4), 365–374. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867417723990
Tuominen, M., & Haanpää, L. (2022). Young People’s Well-Being and the Association with Social Capital, i.e. Social Networks, Trust and Reciprocity. Social Indicators Research, 159(2), 617–645. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02762-z
Vega-Tinoco, A., Gil-Lacruz, A. I., & Gil-Lacruz, M. (2022). Civic Participation as a Promoter of Well-Being: Comparative Analysis among European Countries. Social Indicators Research, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-022-02947-0
Villar, F., & Serrat, R. (2014). La participación cívica de las personas mayores como expresión de la generatividad en la vejez. Estudos Interdisciplinares sobre o Envelhecimento, 19(2), 345–358. https://doi.org/10.22456/2316-2171.44952
Wang, C., & Steiner, B. (2020). Can social capital explain business performance in Denmark? Empirical Economics, 59(4), 1699–1722. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00181-019-01731-3
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