Understanding the relationship between social capital, health, and well-being in a southern rural population

Abstract

Purpose: Social capital is thought to contribute to health and well-being, but its application to a rural context is poorly understood. This study seeks to examine how different forms of social capital relate to health and well-being among rural residents and the extent to which race and degree of rurality moderates these relationships. Methods: Data from a population-based survey of 6 counties in rural Georgia (n = 1,385) are used. We examined 3 forms of social capital (diversity of interaction, civic engagement, and voting behavior) in relation to 3 health and well-being measures (overall life satisfaction, general health status, and 30-day physical health). Findings: Interacting with more diverse social networks was associated with higher overall life satisfaction for White but not Black participants (P ≤.001). For those living in more rural communities, interacting with a more diverse social network was more strongly associated with greater general health as compared to those who lived “in town” (P ≤.01). Greater civic engagement and voting behavior were associated with greater general health for White but not Black participants (Ps