Social capital, health and life satisfaction in 50 countries

• Published in: Health & place Vol. 17; no. 5; pp. 1044 - 1053
• Main Authors: Elgar, Frank J., Davis, Christopher G., Wohl, Michael J., Trites, Stephen J., Zelenski, John M., Martin, Michael S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Cross-national analysis; Cultural Capital; Developed Countries; Developing Countries; Elderly; Elderly people; Female; Gender differentiation; Global Health; Health; Health Status; Health Surveys; Health technology assessment; Humans; Internationality; Life Satisfaction; Male; Middle Aged; Multilevel analysis; Multilevel modelling; Personal Satisfaction; Self-evaluation; Social capital; Social inequalities; Social Inequality; Social Support; Values; Well-being; World Values Survey; Young Adult; Health; World Values Survey; Social capital; Multilevel modelling; Life satisfaction
• ISSN: 1353-8292; 1873-2054
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.06.010

We explored links between social capital and self-rated health and life satisfaction in a diverse sample of rich and developing countries. A four-factor measure of social capital was developed using data on 69,725 adults in 50 countries that were collected in the World Values Survey. Multilevel analyses showed links between country social capital and health and life satisfaction. However, cross-level interactions indicated that the benefits of social capital were greater in women than men, in older adults and in more trusting, affiliated individuals. Social inequalities in the contributions of social capital to population health are worthy of further study. ► We developed a four-factor measure of social capital using data on 69,725 adults in 50 countries. ► Country-level social capital relates to self-rated health and life satisfaction. ► Benefits of social capital are greater in women, older adults and more trusting, affiliated adults.