Publication: Social capital and health among older adults in South Africa
Issued Date
2013
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Geriatrics 2013, 13:100
Suggested Citation
Ramlagan, Shandir, Peltzer, Karl, Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya Social capital and health among older adults in South Africa. BMC Geriatrics 2013, 13:100. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/2846
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Social capital and health among older adults in South Africa
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: Little is known about social capital and health among older adults in South Africa. This study
investigates the association between social capital and several health variables, namely: self-rated health, depressive
symptoms, cognitive functioning and physical inactivity, among older South Africans.
Methods: We conducted a national population-based cross-sectional study with a national probability sample of
3840 individuals aged 50 years or older who participated in the Study of Global Ageing and Adults Health (SAGE
wave 1) in 2008 in South Africa. Measures included socio-demographic characteristics, health variables, cognitive
functioning and physical activity. Social capital was assessed with six components, namely: marital status, social
action, sociability, trust and solidarity, safety, and civic engagement.
Results: The social capital assessment revealed that 56% of the respondents were married or cohabiting, 45%
reported low (0) social action, 42% reported medium (2–3) sociability, 43% reported high (2) trust and solidarity,
50% reported high (2–4) civic engagement and 42% reported medium (6) psychological resources. In multivariate
analysis, self-reported good health was associated with younger age, having secondary education and higher social
capital (being married or cohabiting, high trust and solidarity and greater psychological resources). Depressive
symptoms were associated with lower social capital (not being married or cohabiting, lack of high trust and
solidarity and low psychological resources). Better cognitive functioning was associated with younger age, higher
educational level, greater wealth and higher social capital (being married or cohabiting, high trust and solidarity,
lack of safety, higher civic engagement and greater psychological resources). Physical inactivity was associated with
older age and lower social capital (lower social action, lack of safety, lower civic engagement and poorer
psychological resources).
Conclusions: Given the basis of these findings on cross sectional data and subsequent limitation, it was found that
these study findings mimic the findings of many European and American studies. Social capital among the elderly
generation in South Africa is imperative for better health.