Social capital and COVID-19: a multidimensional and multilevel approach

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic are better handled in places where social capital is high. Less clear, however, are the channels through which social capital makes communities better able to respond to outbreaks. In this article I develop a multidimensional and multilevel approach that compares the potential dissimilar effects of social capital in different forms and at different levels. As social capital in different forms and at different levels can affect social outcomes through distinctive means, such an approach can help detect the processes underlying how social capital works. I illustrate this new approach by analyzing data from a survey I conducted in late April 2020 in China's Hubei province as well as data from the most recent World Values Survey (WVS, 2016-2020). Results suggest that social capital affects COVID-19 response mainly through facilitating collective actions and promoting public acceptance of and compliance with control measures in the form of trust and norms at the individual level. Social capital can also help mobilize resources in the form of networks at the community level. In an authoritarian context, compliance with control measures relies more on people's trust in their political institutions, less on trust in each other.

Understanding the influence of contextual factors and individual social capital on American public mask wearing in response to COVID–19

“…Thus, trust promotes social coordination that incentivizes people to take similar actions such as wearing a mask in response to COVID–19. Using data from a survey of Chinese respondents and the World Values Survey, Wu (2020) shows that higher social trust and political trust are associated with fewer confirmed cases.…”

Two tales of one city: Unequal vulnerability and resilience to COVID-19 by socioeconomic status in Wuhan, China

“…High SES individuals are also more likely to hold jobs for which remote-work is feasible, which mitigates exposure to and concerns about infection. Finally, higher SES communities may provide more social support and cultivate collective efficacy ( Cohen, Finch, Bower, & Sastry, 2006 ; Miao, Zeng, & Shi, 2020 ; Qian & Hanser, 2020 ; Wu, 2020 ). Such a social environment fosters mental health and resilience during a crisis.…”

COVID-19 in everyday life: Contextualizing the pandemic

“…In other words, "not all natural disasters would necessarily reduce social trust" (Aassve et al, 2020: 22;Dennison and Zerka, 2020). Wu (2020) has compared the results of his survey conducted during the pandemic in China's Hubei province with the data from the most recent World Values Survey (WVS, 2016(WVS, -2020. His findings suggest that social capital affects COVID-19 response mainly through facilitating collective actions and promoting public acceptance, in compliance with control measures in the form of trust and norms at the individual level (Wu, 2020: 1).…”

“…His findings suggest that social capital affects COVID-19 response mainly through facilitating collective actions and promoting public acceptance, in compliance with control measures in the form of trust and norms at the individual level (Wu, 2020: 1). In an authoritarian context, compliance with control measures relies more on people's trust in their political institutions, and less on trust in each other (Wu, 2020).…”