Social Capital and Quality of Life in an Indonesian Rural Tourism Village

Abstract

Optimal quality of life (QoL) requires support from various forms of capital, including social capital. Although social capital is considered a relevant non-physical asset, its influence on meeting QoL needs has not been fully clarified. This research aims to fill this knowledge gap by examining the relationship between social capital and QoL in the Sidomulyo Tourism Village, a tourism village based on ornamental plant cultivation in Indonesia. This research is important because research related to social capital and QoL is still limited. Apart from that, this research also understands how social capital can be implemented to improve community QoL. Data was collected through distributing questionnaires to 307 respondents (Head of Household). Data analysis was carried out using SEM-PLS analysis with two stages, namely outer model and inner model analysis. Research findings show that social capital as a whole has a significant influence on the QoL of the Sidomulyo Tourism Village community. Furthermore, elements of social capital, especially trust, have the strongest impact on QoL elements, especially material aspects of well-being. The implications of these findings provide valuable insights in developing policies and intervention programs to improve QoL in rural communities, especially those related to strengthening social capital.