Abstract:

This study investigated the association between social capital and health related quality of life in a sample of Australian adults. Information was collected from a sample of adults in Queensland, Australia relating to health status, health related quality of life and related social determinants of health by computer-assisted-telephone-interview survey. Significant associations were observed between social capital and physical health when adjusting for selected demographic measures. No significant association was observed between social capital and mental health. The research produced equivocal results regarding the associations between social capital and the selected measures of health-related quality of life. Evidence is presented in support of the association between social capital and physical health status, whereas no associations were observed between mental health status and social capital. The role and relationship between health and social capital remains elusive. More work is required to clearly support social capital's role in physical and mental health and well-being.

Keywords: social capital; health related quality of life; physical and mental health; CATI survey

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/13548500701694235

Affiliations: 1: Centre for Social Science Research, Central Queensland University, Australia 2: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dundee, Scotland 3: School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Western, Sydney, Australia