Kim Youngdeok, Schneider Tim, Faß Eric, Lochbaum Marc
Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
BMC Public Health. 2021 Jan 6;21(1):48. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-10043-6.
Personal social capital, which refers to the scope and quality of an individual's social networks within a community, has received increasing attention as a potential sociological factor associated with better individual health; yet, the mechanism relating social capital to health is still not fully understood. This study examined the associations between social capital and self-rated health while exploring the roles of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and socioeconomic status (SES) among middle-aged and older adults.
Cross-sectional data were collected from 662 middle-aged and older adults (Mean age: 58.11 ± 10.59 years old) using the Qualtrics survey panel. Personal Social Capital Scale was used to measure bonding and bridging social capital and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess LTPA levels. SES was assessed by education and household income levels. Self-rated health was assessed using a single item, by which the participants were categorized into the two groups, having 'good' vs. 'not good' self-rated health. A series of univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were established to examine the independent and adjusted associations of social capital with self-rated health and to test mediating and moderating roles of LTPA and SES, respectively.
Bonding and bridging social capital were positively associated with self-rated health (Odds ratios = 1.11 and 1.09; P's < .05, respectively), independent of LTPA that was also significantly associated with greater self-rated health (P-for-linear trends = .007). After adjusting SES, the associations of social capital were significantly attenuated and there was a significant interaction effect by household income (P-for-interaction = .012). Follow-up analyses stratified by household income showed that beneficial associations of social capital with self-rated health were more apparent among the people with low and high levels of household income; yet, LTPA was the stronger predictor of self-rated health among those in the middle class of household income.
Findings suggest that both social capital and LTPA are associated with better self-rated health; yet, these associations vary by SES. The health policymakers should address both social capital and LTPA for enhancing perceived health among aging populations but may need to consider varying SES backgrounds.
个人社会资本指个体在社区内社会网络的范围和质量，作为与个体健康状况改善相关的潜在社会学因素，已受到越来越多的关注；然而，社会资本与健康之间的关联机制仍未完全明晰。本研究考察了社会资本与自评健康之间的关联，同时探讨了休闲体育活动（LTPA）和社会经济地位（SES）在中老年人群中的作用。
使用Qualtrics调查面板从662名中老年人（平均年龄：58.11±10.59岁）收集横断面数据。个人社会资本量表用于测量紧密型和桥接型社会资本，国际体育活动问卷用于评估LTPA水平。SES通过教育程度和家庭收入水平进行评估。自评健康通过一个单项进行评估，据此将参与者分为两组，即自评健康为“良好”与“不佳”。建立了一系列单变量和多变量逻辑回归模型，以检验社会资本与自评健康的独立关联和调整后关联，并分别检验LTPA和SES的中介和调节作用。
紧密型和桥接型社会资本与自评健康呈正相关（优势比分别为1.11和1.09；P值均<0.05），独立于同样与更高自评健康显著相关的LTPA（线性趋势P值=0.007）。调整SES后，社会资本的关联显著减弱，且存在家庭收入的显著交互作用（交互作用P值=0.012）。按家庭收入分层的后续分析表明，社会资本与自评健康的有益关联在家庭收入水平低和高的人群中更为明显；然而，LTPA在家庭收入处于中等水平的人群中是自评健康更强的预测因素。
研究结果表明，社会资本和LTPA均与更好的自评健康相关；然而，这些关联因SES而异。健康政策制定者应同时关注社会资本和LTPA，以提高老年人群的健康认知，但可能需要考虑不同的SES背景。
