Is the association between social capital and health robust across Nordic regions? Evidence from a cross-sectional study of older adults
- Authors:
- NYQVIST Fredrica, NYGARD Mikael
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Social Welfare, 22(2), 2013, pp.119-129.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The study examined the association between structural and cognitive social capital and self-rated health among 65- and 75-year-olds in Vsterbotten in Sweden and Österbotten and Pohjanmaa in Finland. Data were retrieved from a cross-sectional postal questionnaire survey conducted in 2005 and was answered by 3,370 persons, yielding a total response rate of 69 per cent. The association between self-rated health and interpersonal trust and membership in organisations was tested by logistic regression analysis. The results showed that older adults in Vsterbotten in Sweden experienced better self-rated health than in Finland. Furthermore, interpersonal trust and active membership in organisations were associated with self-rated health among 65- and 75-year olds even after having controlled for the influence of region. We therefore conclude that the association between social capital and self-rated health tends to be robust across contextually similar regions, but that further analyses are warranted in order to clarify the nature of this relationship. (Publisher abstract)
- Subject terms:
- social capital, older people, health;
- Content type:
- research
- Location(s):
- Sweden, Finland
- Link:
- Journal home page
- ISSN online:
- 1468-2397
- ISSN print:
- 1369-6866