Social capital, perceived neighborhood environment, and depressive symptoms among older adults in rural China: the role of self-rated health

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Nan Lu ◽  
Bei Wu ◽  
Yaolin Pei ◽  
Changmin Peng
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Cognitive Social Capital ◽  
Structural Social Capital ◽  
Perceived Neighborhood Environment

ABSTRACT Objectives: This study examined the relationships between social capital, perceived neighborhood environment, and depressive symptoms among older adults living in rural China, and the moderating effect of self-rated health (SRH) in these relationships. Participants: A quota sampling method was applied to recruit 447 participants aged 60 years and older in rural communities in Jilin province, China in 2019. Measurements: Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to build latent constructs of social capital and test the proposed model. Multiple group analysis was used to test the moderation effects. Results: Cognitive social capital and structural social capital were both associated with depressive symptoms controlling for participants’ demographics, socioeconomic status, and health status. After adding perceived environment variables in the model, the relationship between cognitive social capital and depressive symptoms became nonsignificant, while structural social capital remained became a significant factor (β = −.168, p < .01). Satisfaction with health care was significantly associated with depressive symptoms among those with poor SRH (β = −.272, p < .01), whereas satisfaction with security and transportation were strongly associated with depressive symptoms among those with good SRH (security: β = −.148, p < .01; transportation: β = −.174, p < .01). Conclusions: Study findings highlighted the importance of social capital and neighborhood environment as potential protective factors of depressive symptoms in later life. Policy and intervention implications were also discussed.

scholarly journals Social Capital and Self-Rated Health among Older Adults Living in Urban China: A Mediation Model

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Lu ◽  
Jingyue Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Urban China ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Cognitive Social Capital ◽  
Structural Social Capital

Social capital and healthy aging are both crucial for social sustainability in China. The present study tested the role of structural social capital in self-rated health among older urban Chinese adults and the influence of cognitive social capital on this relationship. A sample of 456 older adults aged 60 or older in Suzhou, China, were recruited and completed the survey in 2015. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model. Cognitive social capital had larger effects on self-rated health than structural social capital. The relationship between structural social capital and self-rated health was fully mediated by cognitive social capital, when sociodemographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, physical health conditions, and living arrangements were controlled. The culturally sensitive latent construct of community-based social capital proved to be a valid instrument in urban Chinese contexts. Structural social capital likely indirectly affects self-rated health through cognitive social capital. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Social Capital and Mental Health among Older Adults Living in Urban China in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 7947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Sun ◽  
Nan Lu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Urban China ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cognitive Social Capital ◽  
Structural Social Capital

Although social capital has been found to be an important social determinant of mental health in later life, research on social capital in the context of COVID-19 and the interplay among subdimensions of social capital is lacking. The present study examined the mediating role of cognitive social capital on the relationship between structural social capital and mental health among older adults in urban China in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from the Yangpu district in Shanghai, China, in July–August 2020. A quota sampling approach was used to recruit 472 respondents aged 60 years and older from 23 communities in the Yangpu district. Mental health was measured by depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Cognitive social capital was assessed through trust and reciprocity, and structural social capital was assessed through organization memberships, and COVID-19 related volunteering and citizenship activity. Structural equation modeling was used to test the mediation model. The results show that cognitive social capital had a full mediation effect on the association between structural social capital and mental health indicators (life satisfaction: b = 0.122, SD = 0.029, p < 0.001; depressive symptoms: b = −0.343, SD = 0.119, p < 0.01). The findings indicate that social capital can play an important role in sustaining and improving mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Internet Use and Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese Older Adults: The Mediation and Suppression Effects of Social Capital

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyi Li ◽  
Mengyao Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Adult Children ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cognitive Social Capital ◽  
Structural Social Capital

Exploring the social factors of mental health among older adults has become a hot topic. This study aimed to examine the relationships between internet use, social capital and depressive symptoms in older adults. Our data were derived from a sample of 6,840 respondents aged 60 and over in the 2018 wave of the China Family Panel Studies. The ordinary least square (OLS) regression results showed that both Internet use characteristics (including access, emotional activities, and online time) and social capital components (including contact with adult children and trust) were protective factors for the prevention of depressive symptoms among older adults. The generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM) results displayed that Internet use not only had a negatively direct effect on depressive symptoms, but also generated a negatively indirect effect on depressive symptoms by structural social capital (i.e., contact with adult children), suggesting that structural social capital mediated the above link. Conversely, the indirect effects of internet use on depressive symptoms via cognitive social capital (i.e., interpersonal trust and institutional trust) were significantly positive, indicating that the relationship between Internet use and depressive symptoms was suppressed by cognitive social capital. These findings address the gaps in previous research on older adults' mental health and have practical implications for policy makers.

scholarly journals What Matters Most for Community Social Capital among Older Adults Living in Urban China: The Role of Health and Family Social Capital

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyue Zhang ◽  
Nan Lu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Urban China ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Latent Constructs ◽  
Family Social Capital ◽  
Cognitive Social Capital ◽  
Structural Social Capital

The present study investigated individual-level determinants of community social capital among older adults in urban China, with a particular emphasis on health and family social capital. A quota sampling method was used to select 456 adults aged 60 or older from 16 local communities in the city of Suzhou in 2015. Multiple indicators and multiple courses in structural equation modeling were used to examine the proposed model. Latent constructs of community social capital (i.e., cognitive social capital and structural social capital) were established. The results showed that family social capital and instrumental activities of daily living were the most influential determinants of cognitive social capital, whereas activities of daily living and socioeconomic status were the most important determinants of structural social capital. We demonstrate the application of social capital theory in an urban Chinese context. Future policy development and social work interventions should use a more comprehensive social capital latent constructs and health indicators as screening instruments. The promotion of family social capital could play an important role in enhancing cognitive social capital among older adults.

scholarly journals Impacts of Social Capital Factors on Blood Glucose Control and Depressive Symptoms

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 629-629
Author(s):  
Tingzhong (Michelle) Xue ◽  
Zahra Rahmaty ◽  
Eleanor McConnell ◽  
Yingzhi (Lindsay) Xu ◽  
Kirsten Corazzini
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Access To Care ◽  
Glucose Control ◽  
Blood Glucose Control ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cognitive Social Capital ◽  
Structural Social Capital

Abstract Social capital, conceptualized as resources arising from social networks, is receiving increased attention for its role in prevention and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and depression that commonly co-occur. Although social capital has been linked to control of blood glucose and depression, previous research has not considered these two outcomes simultaneously while distinguishing between cognitive (i.e., perceived social support, shared values and trust in community) and structural (i.e., social connectedness and participation) domains. This study examined how these two domains of social capital relate to glucose control and depressive symptoms, and whether physical exercise and care access mediate those relationships, using structural equation modeling. The sample included 3,043 older adults aged 57 and above from wave 2 of the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project. Although a higher level of cognitive social capital was associated with higher levels of physical exercise (b=.38, p&lt;.001), access to care (b=.40, p=.007), lower levels of blood glucose (b=-.43, p&lt;.001) and depressive symptoms (b=-.84, p&lt;.001), a higher level of structural social capital was associated only with a higher level of physical exercise (b=.16, p=.002). The mediating effects of physical exercise and access to care were not significant. Findings suggest that cognitive social capital may have greater influence on blood glucose and depressive symptoms than structural social capital, and therefore have different implications for practice, especially in the context of pandemic-related disruptions to social capital. Future research should examine other mediators and investigate how promotion of cognitive social capital might improve health outcomes.

scholarly journals Social Capital and Preferences for Aging in Place Among Older Adults Living in Rural Northeast China

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (14) ◽  
pp. 5085
Author(s):  
Nan Lu ◽  
Shicun Xu ◽  
Qinghong Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Aging In Place ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Measurement Models ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Quota Sampling ◽  
Cognitive Social Capital ◽  
Structural Social Capital

The present study examines the association between cognitive social capital and structural social capital and aging-in-place among older adults living in rural Northeastern Chinese communities. Data were derived from a survey conducted in Dongliao County, Jilin Province, China, in late 2019. A quota sampling approach was used to recruit 458 respondents aged 60 years and older. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the proposed model. The results show that the measurement models of cognitive social capital and structural social capital were established in rural Chinese communities. Structural social capital was found to have a higher effect on aging in place than cognitive social capital (structural social capital: β = 0.241, p < 0.001; cognitive social capital: β = 0.118, p < 0.05). The findings highlight the crucial role both cognitive and structural social capital play in affecting the preference for aging in place among older rural Chinese adults. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Research on the Association Between Perceived Neighborhood Environment and Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults in Shanghai, China: Do Social Capital And Gender Matter?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Lu ◽  
Bei Wu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Multiple Group ◽  
Multiple Group Analysis ◽  
Perceived Neighborhood Environment

Abstract This study examined the mediator role of social capital on the association between perceived neighborhood environment and life satisfaction among older adults in urban China, and further tested the moderating effect of gender in the above paths (i.e., from neighborhood environment to life satisfaction; from neighborhood environment to social capital; from social capital to life satisfaction). We used quota sampling approach to recruit 472 respondents aged 60 years old or older in Shanghai in 2020. From the perspective of structural equation modeling, multiple group analysis was conducted to examine the proposed hypotheses. The measurement model of social capital was well established in urban Chinese community contexts. Based on the whole sample, the results of the mediation model showed that social capital played a mediation role in the association between neighborhood environment and life satisfaction. Furthermore, the results of multiple group analysis showed that the association between neighborhood environment and cognitive social capital was only significant among older women. The findings highlight the role of neighborhood environment and social capital in building age-friendly communities.

scholarly journals Association of Structural Social Capital and Self-Reported Well-Being among Japanese Community-Dwelling Adults: A Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8284
Author(s):  
Kazuya Nogi ◽  
Haruhiko Imamura ◽  
Keiko Asakura ◽  
Yuji Nishiwaki
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Adjusted Relative Risk ◽  
Community Activities ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Structural Social Capital

Previous studies have shown both positive and non-positive associations between social capital and health. However, longitudinal evidence examining its comprehensive effects on well-being is still limited. This study examined whether structural social capital in the local community was related to the later well-being of Japanese people aged 40 or above. A 3.6-year longitudinal study was conducted in a rural Japanese town. “Well-being” was measured using three indicators (happiness, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms), and those who were high in well-being in the baseline 2015 survey and responded to the follow-up 2018 survey were analyzed (n = 1032 for happiness, 938 for self-rated health, and 471 for depressive symptoms). Multilevel Poisson regression analysis adjusted for covariates showed that having contact with fewer neighbors was associated with a decline in happiness at both the community level (adjusted relative risk = 1.64, 95% confidence interval = 1.20–1.63) and the individual level (adjusted relative risk = 1.51, 95% confidence interval = 1.05–2.17), but participation in local community activities was not. The results suggest that dense personal networks might be more important in areas with thriving local community activities, not only for individuals but also for all community members.

scholarly journals Multiple Linear Regression-Structural Equation Modeling Based Development of the Integrated Model of Perceived Neighborhood Environment and Quality of Life of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nanjing, China

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (24) ◽  
pp. 4933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Dezhi Li
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽  
Perceived Neighborhood Environment

Due to the poor functioning in daily living activities, community-dwelling older adults spend more time in their neighborhood environment. The perceived neighborhood environment is crucial to their quality of life (QoL). To explore the complex influences of perceived neighborhood environment on QoL, a questionnaire was designed to measure their perception of each factor of neighborhood environment and each domain of QoL. Based on collected data, the reliability test was applied to revise the questionnaire. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were adopted to hypothesize and test the integrated model for community-dwelling older adults. The results show that community-dwelling older adults’ perceptions of neighbor support, facilities related to physical exercise and recreation, and accessibility to facilities impact their overall QoL with diverse coefficients of 0.437, 0.312, and 0.295, respectively; neighbor support (0.207) on physical health; sidewalk condition (0.134), natural environment (0.260), and facilities related to daily life (0.165) on psychological health; and neighbor support (0.298), facilities related to daily life (0.206), and design-related safety (0.225) on social relationship. This revealed that perceptions of neighborhood environment have diverse impacts on their QoL. This study can provide targeted retrofit strategies for communities to enhance QoL of community-dwelling older adults efficiently.

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