Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
Just thinking about it: social capital and suicide ideation among homeless persons
Kevin M Fitzpatrick1, Jay A. Irwin, Mark Lagory
1Department of Sociology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. kfitzpa@uark.edu
Abstract:
Suicide ideation is a sensitive indicator of personal well-being. While ideation occurs in roughly 3 percent of the US population annually, in this study rates are 10 times higher. This article explores the role of social capital in mediating negative life circumstances on ideation for a sample of 161 homeless adults in a mid-sized Southern US metropolitan area. Our results imply that social capital does not function the same way for homeless persons as it does for the general population. This finding supports growing evidence that social capital's much touted benefits for personal well-being may not apply to disadvantaged populations.
Related Concept Videos
Impact of Social Context on Individuals
Social Relationships and Well-Being
Fundamental Attribution Error
Depressive Disorders: Etiology
Biological Factors in Depression
Biological predispositions significantly influence the risk of developing depressive disorders. Genetic studies highlight the role of variations in the serotonin transporter...
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
