title: A cross-sectional description of social capital in an international sample of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social capital refers to the resources linked to having a strong social network. This concept plays into health outcomes among People Living with HIV/AIDS because, globally, this is a highly marginalized population. Case studies show that modifying social capital can lead to improvements in HIV transmission and management; however, there remains a lack of description or definition of social capital in international settings. The purpose of our paper was to describe the degree of social capital in an international sample of adults living with HIV/AIDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited PLWH at 16 sites from five countries including Canada, China, Namibia, Thailand, and the United States. Participants (n = 1,963) completed a cross-sectional survey and data were collected between August, 2009 and December, 2010. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and correlational analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participant's mean age was 45.2 years, most (69%) identified as male, African American/Black (39.9%), and unemployed (69.5%). Total mean social capital was 2.68 points, a higher than average total social capital score. Moderate correlations were observed between self-reported physical (r = 0.25) and psychological condition (r = 0.36), social support (r = 0.31), and total social capital. No relationships between mental health factors, including substance use, and social capital were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report to describe levels of total social capital in an international sample of PLWH and to describe its relationship to self-reported health in this population.
authors.affiliation: Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106-4904, USA. allison.webel@case.edu
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Webel
authors.forename: J Craig
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Carol Dawson
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Holzemer
authors.forename: Wei-Ti
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lynda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tyer-Viola
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivero-Méndez
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nokes
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kemppainen
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sefcik
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brion
authors.forename: Lucille
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.forename: Scholastika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iipinge
authors.forename: Kenn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirksey
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wantland
authors.forename: Puangtip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaiphibalsarisdi
authors.forename: Mallory O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Portillo
authors.forename: Inge B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Corless
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Salata
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric