The power of social capital-social capital and depressive symptoms in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.

Abstract

Background: Social capital theory is predominantly built around social networks, relationships, and functions of society. Social capital dimensions have been found to be inversely associated with depressive symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the association between cognitive and structural dimensions of social capital and depressive symptoms (outcome variable) at an epidemiological level.

Methods: Social capital consisted of cognitive (actual support, emotional support and generalized trust) and structural (taking care of family members) dimensions. Depressive symptoms were calculated using the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist- 15. Data used was derived from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, utilizing a sample of 46-year-old participants (N = 6522). The study used cross-sectional design. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between these dimensions of social capital and depressive symptoms after adjusting for gender, education level, and marital status.

Results: Cognitive social capital variables were associated with depressive symptoms: those who received 'not at all' emotional or actual support from their partners were significantly more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms (odd ratios (OR) being 2.04 (95% CI = 1.57, 2.65) and 2.29 (95% CI = 1.76, 2.98), respectively) than those whose partners supported them a lot/quite a lot. Furthermore, those having extra low generalized trust had over 7-fold (OR = 7.55, 95% CI= 5.42, 10.53) increased risk of exhibiting depressive symptoms. Structural social capital was not associated with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: A significant association between cognitive social capital and depressive symptoms was found, suggesting that social capital may play a significant role in the trajectory of depressive symptoms.