Perceptions of community, social capital, and how they affect self-reported health: a multilevel analysis
Date
2017-11Author
Dziadkowiec, Oliwier
Meissen, Gregory J.
Merkle, Edgar C.
Metadata
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Dziadkowiec, Oliwier; Meissen, Gregory J.; Merkle, Edgar C. 2017. Perceptions of community, social capital, and how they affect self-reported health: a multilevel analysis. Public Health, vol. 152:pp 9-16
Abstract
Objectives: The link between social capital and self-reported health has been widely explored. On the other hand, we know less about the relationship between social capital, community socioeconomic characteristics, and non-social capitale-related individual differences, and about their impact on self-reported health in community settings.
Methods: Cross-sectional study design with a proportional sample of 7965 individuals from 20 US communities were analyzed using multilevel linear regression models, where individuals were nested within communities. The response rates ranged from 13.5% to 25.4%.
Results: Findings suggest that perceptions of the community and individual level socioeconomic characteristics were stronger predictors of self-reported health than were social capital or community socioeconomic characteristics.
Conclusions: Policy initiatives aimed at increasing social capital should first assess community member's perceptions of their communities to uncover potential assets to help increase social capital.
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