Social capital, gender and self-rated health. Evidence from the Moscow Health Survey 2004

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 69; no. 9; pp. 1323 - 1332
• Main Authors: Ferlander, Sara, Mäkinen, Ilkka Henrik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2009; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Series: Social Science & Medicine
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cultural Capital; Family; Family Friends Gender Moscow Russia Self-rated health Social capital Social networks Voluntary associations; Family studies; Female; Friends; Friendship; Gender; Health; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Interviews as Topic; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Moscow; Moscow, Russia; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Qualitative research; Russia; Russian Federation; SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP; Self-rated health; Sex; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Social capital; Social Networks; Social relations; SOCIAL SCIENCES; Social Support; Social surveys; Socialvetenskap; Socioeconomic Factors; Sociologi; Sociology; Voluntarism; Voluntary associations; Volunteers - statistics & numerical data; Eurasia; Russian Federation; Moscow; Moscow Russia; Russia; Friends; Family; Social networks; Self-rated health; Gender; Voluntary associations; Moscow; Social capital; Russia; Human; Self evaluation; Family study; Health; Sex; Authorized capital; Social network; Friendship; Survey; Association; Health status; Volunteering; 2004; Family environment; Social medicine
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.08.009

The state of public health in Russia is undoubtedly poor compared with other European countries. The health crisis that has characterised the transition period has been attributed to a number of factors, with an increasing interest being focused on the impact of social capital – or the lack of it. However, there have been relatively few studies of the relation between social capital and health in Russia, and especially in Moscow. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between social capital and self-rated health in Greater Moscow. The study draws on data from the Moscow Health Survey 2004, where 1190 Muscovites were interviewed. Our results indicate that among women, there is no relationship between any form of social capital and self-rated health. However, an association was detected between social capital outside the family and men's self-rated health. Men who rarely or never visit friends and acquaintances are significantly more likely to report less than good health than those who visit more often. Likewise, men who are not members of any voluntary associations have significantly higher odds of reporting poorer health than those who are, while social capital in the family does not seem to be of importance at all. We suggest that these findings might be due to the different gender roles in Russia, and the different socializing patterns and values embedded in them. In addition, different forms of social capital provide access to different forms of resources, influence, and support. They also imply different obligations. These differences are highly relevant for health outcomes, both in Moscow and elsewhere.