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Chronic Illness, Vol. 1, No. 3, 183-190 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/17423953050010030201

Social capital and risk for chronic illnesses

Melissa M. Ahern

Department of Health Policy and Administration, Washington State University Spokane, 310 N. Riverpoint Blvd, PO Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210, USA, ahernm{at}wsu.edu

Michael S. Hendryx

Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research and Training, Washington State University Spokane, Spokane, WA 99210, USA

Objectives: This study used an ecological model of social capital to examine the relationship between social capital and chronic illness. The model hypothesizes that personal social support and collective social capital are related to risk for chronic illnesses.

Methods: Data were taken from the American Changing Lives public use database. Seven hundred and sixty-nine persons meeting inclusion criteria were included. Dependent variables were the reported presence of hypertension and diabetes. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify correlates of these chronic illnesses, including demographic variables, and social capital and social support variables measured at both the personal and collective levels.

Results: Significant results were usually consistent with model hypotheses; that is, measures of social capital and social support were related to the presence of diabetes and hypertension in expected ways. However, in other cases, the hypothesized relationships were not statistically significant, due to limitations in the model or data.

Discussion: Social support and social capital both serve as protective factors against chronic illness. Development of social capital may proceed from the personal family and social environment to collective measures of trust and engagement, and this suggests that family relationships are the foundation on which to base efforts to build social capital.

Key Words: Chronic illness • Diabetes • Hypertension • Social capital


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