Social capital and lack of belief in the possibility to influence one's own health: A population-based study

Abstract

Low levels of social capital, particularly low social participation, is positively associated with lack of belief in the possibility to influence one's own health.

Long-term Stability of Social Participation

“…Individual-level social capital (Hyyppä and Mäki 2001;Lindström et al 2001;2002;Lindström 2005Lindström , 2006Pevalin and Rose 2003;Poortinga 2006) with presumed beneficial health effects (Veenstra 2005;Poortinga 2006) can be measured on the basis of social engagements such as participation in a study circle or hobby group, singing in a choir, or participation in congregational activities (Lochner et al 1999;Baum et al 2000;Pevalin and Rose 2003;Nieminen et al 2007). Women and men tend to engage in different social affairs (e.g., Baum et al 2000;Lin 2000).…”

“…Also, changing economic and living conditions may affect social participation in many ways (Nieminen et al 2007). These changes may influence age-and gender-related social participation and individual-level social capital, and thereby also health (Pevalin and Rose 2003;Lindström 2005Lindström , 2006, survival (Hyyppä et al 2006) and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (Hyyppä et al 2007). The longterm stability of social participation therefore deserves careful investigation.…”

Work‐place social capital and smoking cessation: the Finnish Public Sector Study

“…strong beliefs in the possibility to influence one's own health. The association between social capital and smoking cessation may thus be mediated by the influence of social capital on individual locus of control [44].…”

Social determinants of mental health: the missing dimensions of mental health nursing?

“…Social capital, measured through ties to community groups, is associated with better recall of health messages (Viswanath et al 2006). Low levels of social capital, particularly low social participation, is positively associated with lack of belief in the possibility to influence one's own health (Lindstrom 2006). Collier (1998) proposes other mechanisms such as collective efficiency via social control over deviant health-related behaviour, a mediating role through psychosocial processes such as affective support, control, self-esteem and mutual respect or through a lack of economic development (Collier 1998).…”