Social capital and health outcomes among older adults in China: The urban-rural dimension

Abstract

Purpose: This study examines different types of individual-level social capital (bonding, bridging, and linking) and their relationships with physical and emotional health among older Chinese living in urban and rural settings. Design and Methods: Using the 2005 China General Social Survey, physical and emotional health were regressed on social capital controlling for sociodemographic variables by urban and rural Chinese aged 65 years and older. Results: Bonding social capital was significantly associated with physical and emotional health (β =.14; p