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Social Capital and Self-Rated Health among Older Adults Living in Urban China: A Mediation Model

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  • Nan Lu

    (Department of Social Work and Social Policy, School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
    Sau Po Centre on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

  • Jingyue Zhang

    (Department of Sociology, School of Philosophy and Sociology, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
    Institute of Gender and Culture, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130052, China)

Abstract

Social capital and healthy aging are both crucial for social sustainability in China. The present study tested the role of structural social capital in self-rated health among older urban Chinese adults and the influence of cognitive social capital on this relationship. A sample of 456 older adults aged 60 or older in Suzhou, China, were recruited and completed the survey in 2015. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model. Cognitive social capital had larger effects on self-rated health than structural social capital. The relationship between structural social capital and self-rated health was fully mediated by cognitive social capital, when sociodemographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, physical health conditions, and living arrangements were controlled. The culturally sensitive latent construct of community-based social capital proved to be a valid instrument in urban Chinese contexts. Structural social capital likely indirectly affects self-rated health through cognitive social capital. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Nan Lu & Jingyue Zhang, 2019. "Social Capital and Self-Rated Health among Older Adults Living in Urban China: A Mediation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:20:p:5566-:d:274768
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nan Lu & Shicun Xu & Jingyue Zhang, 2021. "Community Social Capital, Family Social Capital, and Self-Rated Health among Older Rural Chinese Adults: Empirical Evidence from Rural Northeastern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.
    2. Nan Lu & Shicun Xu & Qinghong Zhou, 2020. "Social Capital and Preferences for Aging in Place Among Older Adults Living in Rural Northeast China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-10, July.
    3. Ma Yuan & Cao Yue-qun & Wang Hao & Xiang Hong, 2022. "Does Social Capital Promote Health?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 162(2), pages 501-524, July.
    4. Qian Sun & Nan Lu, 2020. "Social Capital and Mental Health among Older Adults Living in Urban China in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-11, October.
    5. Xianhua Dai & Nian Gu, 2021. "The Impact of Social Capital on Mental Health: Evidence from the China Family Panel Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-19, December.

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