Frank Christine, Davis Christopher G, Elgar Frank J
a Department of Psychology , Carleton University , Ottawa , ON , Canada.
Anxiety Stress Coping. 2014;27(4):422-38. doi: 10.1080/10615806.2013.864389. Epub 2013 Dec 10.
Although the health consequences of financial strain are well documented, less is understood about the health-protective role of social capital. Social capital refers to a sense of community embeddedness, which is in part reflected by group membership, civic participation, and perceptions of trust, cohesion, and engagement. We investigated whether perceptions of social capital moderate the relation between financial strain and health, both mental and physical. This longitudinal study surveyed adults in two communities in rural Ontario where significant job losses recently occurred. Data were collected on financial strain, social capital, perceived stress, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and physical health on three occasions over 18 months (N's = 355, 317, and 300). As expected, financial strain positively related to perceived stress, poor physical health and symptoms of anxiety and depression, whereas social capital related to less stress, better physical health, and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Effects of financial strain on perceived stress and depressive symptoms were moderated by social capital such that financial strain related more closely to perceived stress and depressive symptoms when social capital was lower. The findings underscore the health-protective role of community associations among adults during difficult economic times.
尽管经济压力对健康的影响已有充分记录，但人们对社会资本的健康保护作用了解较少。社会资本指的是一种社区融入感，部分体现在群体成员身份、公民参与以及对信任、凝聚力和参与度的认知上。我们调查了社会资本认知是否会调节经济压力与身心健康之间的关系。这项纵向研究对安大略省农村两个社区的成年人进行了调查，这两个社区近期出现了大量失业情况。在18个月内分三次收集了有关经济压力、社会资本、感知压力、焦虑和抑郁症状以及身体健康的数据（样本量分别为355、317和300）。正如预期的那样，经济压力与感知压力、身体健康不佳以及焦虑和抑郁症状呈正相关，而社会资本则与较低的压力、更好的身体健康以及较少的焦虑和抑郁症状相关。社会资本调节了经济压力对感知压力和抑郁症状的影响，即当社会资本较低时，经济压力与感知压力和抑郁症状的关联更为紧密。研究结果强调了在经济困难时期社区协会对成年人的健康保护作用。
