Cultivating social capital: Dimensions of friendship quality among the Afars of Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper intends to provide an insight into the cultivation of social capital. To this end, the paper employs a cross sectional survey design for the purpose of collecting relevant data through quantitative methods. The collected data for the sample of 390 respondents were examined using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to check the reliability and validity of items included in Friendship Quality and Generalized Trust Scales. Ordinary Logistic Regression (OLS) also conducted on the dimensions of friendship quality as a predictor variable and general trust as an outcome variable. The regression analysis shows that dimensions of friendship quality such as the provision of help, mutual acceptance and perceived feeling of safety tend to affect social capital positively and significantly. The finding implies that high friendship quality has influence on the cultivation of social capital in Afar pastoral community of Ethiopia.