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Social capital and risk for chronic illnesses
Melissa M Ahern1, Michael S Hendryx
1Department of Health Policy and Administration, Washington State University Spokane, 310 N. Riverpoint Blvd, PO Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210, USA. ahernm@wsu.edu
Chronic Illness
|December 13, 2006
Summary
Social capital and social support act as protective factors against chronic illnesses like hypertension and diabetes. Strong family relationships are foundational for building social capital and mitigating chronic disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Social capital, encompassing personal support and collective trust, is increasingly recognized for its influence on health outcomes.
- Chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes represent significant public health challenges with complex etiological factors.
- Existing research suggests a link between social factors and chronic disease, but the specific role of social capital requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between social capital and the risk of developing chronic illnesses, specifically hypertension and diabetes.
- To test an ecological model of social capital, examining both personal social support and collective social capital.
- To identify demographic, social support, and social capital correlates of chronic illness.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the American Changing Lives public use database, including 769 participants.
- Employed logistic regression analysis to assess the association between dependent variables (hypertension, diabetes) and independent variables.
- Measured social capital and social support at both personal and collective levels.
Main Results:
- Findings generally supported the hypotheses, indicating that measures of social capital and social support were associated with diabetes and hypertension in expected directions.
- Some hypothesized relationships were not statistically significant, potentially due to model or data limitations.
- Personal and collective social capital measures demonstrated a significant relationship with chronic illness presence.
Conclusions:
- Social support and social capital function as crucial protective factors against chronic disease development.
- The development of social capital appears to progress from personal/familial levels to broader collective engagement.
- Family relationships are identified as a fundamental basis for interventions aimed at enhancing social capital and promoting health.
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