How does bridging social capital relate to health-behavior, overweight and obesity among low and high educated groups? A cross-sectional analysis of GLOBE-2014

Abstract

BackgroundSocial capital is an important determinant of health, but how specific sub-dimensions of social capital affect health and health-related behaviors is still unknown. To better understand its role for health inequalities, it is important to distinguish between bonding social capital (connections between homogenous network members; e.g. similar educational level) and bridging social capital (connections between heterogeneous network members). In this study, we test the hypotheses that, 1) among low educational groups, bridging social capital is positively associated with health-behavior, and negatively associated with overweight and obesity, and 2) among high educational groups, bridging social capital is negatively associated with health-behavior, and positively with overweight and obesity.MethodsCross-sectional data on educational level, health-behavior, overweight and obesity from participants (25–75 years; Eindhoven, the Netherlands) of the 2014-survey of the GLOBE study were used (N = 2702). Social capital (“How many of your close friends have the same educational level as you have?”) was dichotomized as: bridging (‘about half’, ‘some’, or ‘none of my friends’), or bonding (‘all’ or ‘most of my friends’). Logistic regression models were used to study whether bridging social capital was related to health-related behaviors (e.g. smoking, food intake, physical activity), overweight and obesity, and whether these associations differed between low and high educational groups.ResultsAmong low educated, having bridging social capital (i.e. friends with a higher educational level) reduced the likelihood to report overweight (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.52–1.03) and obesity (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38–0.88), compared to low educated with bonding social capital. In contrast, among high educated, having bridging social capital (i.e. friends with a lower educational level) increased the likelihood to report daily smoking (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.37–3.27), no leisure time cycling (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.17–2.04), not meeting recommendations for vegetable intake (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.50–2.91), and high meat intake (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.05–1.83), compared to high educated with bonding social capital.ConclusionsBridging social capital had differential relations with health-behavior among low and high educational groups. Policies aimed at reducing segregation between educational groups may reduce inequalities in overweight, obesity and unhealthy behaviors.

Socioeconomic inequalities in health behaviors: exploring mediation pathways through material conditions and time orientation

“…There is evidence of a socioeconomic gradient in health behaviors in the Netherlands, meaning that those with incrementally lower socioeconomic position (SEP) engage in fewer health-promoting behaviors [ 1 – 4 ]. Health behaviors have been shown to explain an important part of the Dutch socioeconomic gradient in mortality and other health outcomes [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Social capital and dietary patterns in three ethnic minority groups native to Yunnan Province, Southwest China

“…Furthermore, the relationships between bridging social capital and dietary intakes may be more impactful in socioeconomic disadvantaged populations. For example, a study from Netherland shows that having bridging social capital reduce the likelihood to report overweight and obesity in low educated adults [ 14 ]. A possible explanation is that health information and services within the social network is indispensable for the low educated to prevent weight gain, but not for the educated ones.…”

“…According to social networks and the interactions within, social capital can be divided into bonding, bridging and linking capital. Bonding capital refers to “inward” connections between homogeneous individuals, bridging capital refers to “outward” connections between heterogeneous individuals, and linking capital characterizes connections between individuals across authority gradients [ 13 , 14 ]. Because of this, different types of social capital may have different effects on individual dietary practices.…”

Using an arts‐based approach to explore the building of social capital at a therapeutic recreation camp

“…The concept of quality social relationships can be interpreted from the subthemes Kindness and support, Loyalism, and Connection. Within the sociology literature, the bridging of social capital is a phenomenon which complements the concept of social capital (Kamphuis et al 2019;Salehi et al 2019). The bridging of social capital has been described by Warde and Tampubolon (2002) as being possible through informal social interactions and recreation.…”

“…Within the sociology literature, the bridging of social capital is a phenomenon which complements the concept of social capital (Kamphuis et al . 2019; Salehi et al . 2019).…”