An Examination of Social Capital among U.S. Adults: Patterns that Facilitate Social Well-being as Measured by PIAAC

Abstract

Communities thrive when individuals work together to share knowledge and resources. This phenomenon, social capital, is widely understood as the access and proficiency individuals have to knowledge and networks that facilitate acquisition of economic resources and social well-being (Putnam, 2000). This paper presents findings from data collected in the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) related to three elements of social capital. Community involvement, political efficacy, and social trust were explored as they relate to age, educational attainment, and time of residence in the United States. Key results include low levels of all social capital variables and differences by age and educational attainment. Findings add to the understanding of the ways in which sub-groups of U.S. communities engage with their social networks.

Social Capital and Social Well-Being: A Systematic Review

“…To remove this research gap, researchers should conduct empirical studies in future. Rhodes et al (2019) social capital and social well-being support the individuals through which they can learn the skills to work within the community. Along with social capital, consistent improvement in learning opportunities is needed through formal educational institutions to enhance social and economic well-being at all levels of society.…”

“…But a few studies (only five) are available in the database that showed the association between SC and SWB. For example, in research, Rhodes, Cordie, and Wooten (2019) found a significant association between SC and SWB. This study further revealed that SC and SWB vary in age and educational attainment.…”

The Effect of Adventure-Based Counseling Modules on Self-Efficacy of College Students Council (CSC) in Sultan Idris Education University

“…Self-efficacy is important during the implementation of adventurebased counseling modules towards the College Students Council (CSC). It is because the individuals that own high self-efficacy would be able to encounter the hurdles effectively (Blatti, Clinton, & Graham, 2019;Rhodes, Cordie, & Wooten, 2019), diligent at performing tasks, adapt to new situations, setting goals, have life strategies, and be ready whenever faced with the failure (Chen & Gully, 2001). Meanwhile, individuals who have self-efficacy is low will easily sad, excessive worry, distancing themselves from the tasks that challenge, it is easy to give in to adversity, there is no commitment in life and slow to recover from the failure (Anderson, BS, Winett, RA, & Wojcik, IR, 2000;Annesi, JJ, Unruh, JL, Marti, CN, Gorjala, S., Tennant, G., 2011).…”

Adult Literacy Learners are (Mostly) Missing from JAAL: Rethinking Adulthood, Adult Literacy, and doing Antiracist Research

“…The population of adults with low reading skills has many strengths and resources, but they also tend to be more vulnerable in terms of unemployment, poor health outcomes, low social trust, and civic engagement, and their capacity to help their children succeed in school (Grotlüschen et al, 2021;National Council for Adult Learning, n.d.;Rhodes et al, 2019;Rose et al, 2019;Saal et al, 2020). U. S. and international population studies indicate that low literacy levels are relatively unchanging over time (Kutner et al, 2007;Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development, 2013), and research in this area is poorly funded.…”