title: The impact of neighborhood social capital on life satisfaction and self-rated health: A possible pathway for health promotion?
abstract: Neighborhood social capital has repeatedly been linked to favorable health-outcomes and life satisfaction. However, it has been questioned whether it's impact on health has been over-rated. We aim to investigate relationships between neighborhood social capital and self-rated health (SRH) and life satisfaction (LS) respectively, both directly and indirectly mediated via Sense of Coherence and self-esteem. Based on a cross-sectional population-survey (N=865) in a medium size Norwegian municipality, we specified a structural equation model (SEM) including the above-listed variables, while controlling for gender, age, education, income, and employment status. The applied model explains more variance in LS (46%) than in SRH (23%). Social capital has a stronger impact on life satisfaction than on health. The indirect pathway via SOC had the highest impact on life satisfaction, but no significant relationship to SRH. Self-rated health was more tightly linked to personal background variables. Enhancing social capital in the neighborhood might be a beneficial strategy to promote life satisfaction, as well as strengthening sense of coherence even in healthy communities.
authors: Department of Health Science, Faculty of Health and Social Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway; Center for Health Promotion Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway. Electronic address: Ruca.e.maass@ntnu.no.
authors: Ruca
authors: R
authors: Maass
authors: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway. Electronic address: Christian.klockner@ntnu.no.
authors: Christian A
authors: CA
authors: Kloeckner
authors: Department of Social Work and Health Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway. Electronic address: bengt.lindstrom@ntnu.no.
authors: Bengt
authors: B
authors: Lindstrøm
authors: Department of Health Science, Faculty of Health and Social Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway; Center for Health Promotion Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway. Electronic address: Monica.lillefjell@ntnu.no.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Lillefjell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012042:Registries; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D017678:Sex Distribution; D066270:Social Capital; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Health promotion; Life satisfaction; Neighborhood; Salutogenesis; Self-esteem; Self-rated health; Sense of coherence; Social capital