Individual social capital and survival: a population study with 5-year follow-up

BMC Public Health

Claus D Hansen²  Christian Torp-Pedersen⁴  Steen M Hansen⁴  Mads Wissenberg¹  Stella R J Kræmer⁴  Henrik Vardinghus-Nielsen⁴  Line R B U Christensen⁴  Charlotte Overgaard⁴  Rikke N Mortensen³  Linda Ejlskov⁴ 

[1] Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte, Niels Andersens Vej 65, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark;Department of Sociology and Social Work, Aalborg University, Kroghstræde 7, 9220 Aalborg Øst, Denmark;Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Sdr. Skovvej 15, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark;Department of Health Science and Technology, Public Health and Epidemiology, Aalborg University, Niels Jernes Vej 14, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark

关键词: Effect modifier;    Expectations of reciprocity;    Social environment;    Social participation;    Trust;    Gender differences;    Proportional hazards models;    Mortality;    Social capital;   

Others  :  1126477
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-14-1025

 received in 2014-06-03, accepted in 2014-09-16,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

The concept of social capital has received increasing attention as a determinant of population survival, but its significance is uncertain. We examined the importance of social capital on survival in a population study while focusing on gender differences.

Methods

We used data from a Danish regional health survey with a five-year follow-up period, 2007–2012 (n = 9288, 53.5% men, 46.5% women). We investigated the association between social capital and all-cause mortality, performing separate analyses on a composite measure as well as four specific dimensions of social capital while controlling for covariates. Analyses were performed with Cox proportional hazard models by which hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results

For women, higher levels of social capital were associated with lower all-cause mortality regardless of age, socioeconomic status, health, and health behaviour (HR = 0.586, 95% CI = 0.421-0.816) while no such association was found for men (HR = 0.949, 95% CI = 0.816-1.104). Analysing the specific dimensions of social capital, higher levels of trust and social network were significantly associated with lower all-cause mortality in women (HR = 0.827, 95% CI = 0.750-0.913 and HR = 0.832, 95% CI = 0.729-0.949, respectively). For men, strong social networks were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.132, 95% CI = 1.017-1.260). Civic engagement had a similar effect for both men (HR = 0.848, 95% CI = 0.722-0.997) and women (HR = 0.848, 95% CI = 0.630-1.140).

Conclusions

We found differential effects of social capital in men compared to women. The predictive effects on all-cause mortality of four specific dimensions of social capital varied. Gender stratified analysis and the use of multiple indicators to measure social capital are thus warranted in future research.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Ejlskov et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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