Violence and social capital among young men in Beirut

Hajj, Taghreed El; Afifi, Rima; Khawaja, Marwan; Harpham, Trudy

doi:10.1136/ip.2010.029124

Cited by 12 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…We asked about the proportion of the subject’s friends that shared his or her own ethnic background ( all or a lot , about half , none or very few ). Social capital is known to be related to violence, [35], [36] suicide [37] and mental health. [38] Given the constraints in the length of the survey, we selected questions a number of questions from the Office for National Statistics Social Capital Question Bank [39] in order to tap the most important elements of social capital of relevance to radicalisation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Violent Radicalisation Associated with Poverty, Migration, Poor Self-Reported Health and Common Mental Disorders?

2014

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BackgroundDoctors, lawyers and criminal justice agencies need methods to assess vulnerability to violent radicalization. In synergy, public health interventions aim to prevent the emergence of risk behaviours as well as prevent and treat new illness events. This paper describes a new method of assessing vulnerability to violent radicalization, and then investigates the role of previously reported causes, including poor self-reported health, anxiety and depression, adverse life events, poverty, and migration and socio-political factors. The aim is to identify foci for preventive intervention.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of a representative population sample of men and women aged 18–45, of Muslim heritage and recruited by quota sampling by age, gender, working status, in two English cities. The main outcomes include self-reported health, symptoms of anxiety and depression (common mental disorders), and vulnerability to violent radicalization assessed by sympathies for violent protest and terrorist acts.Results2.4% of people showed some sympathy for violent protest and terrorist acts. Sympathy was more likely to be articulated by the under 20s, those in full time education rather than employment, those born in the UK, those speaking English at home, and high earners (>£75,000 a year). People with poor self-reported health were less likely to show sympathies for violent protest and terrorism. Anxiety and depressive symptoms, adverse life events and socio-political attitudes showed no associations.ConclusionsSympathies for violent protest and terrorism were uncommon among men and women, aged 18–45, of Muslim heritage living in two English cities. Youth, wealth, and being in education rather than employment were risk factors.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Violent Radicalisation Associated with Poverty, Migration, Poor Self-Reported Health and Common Mental Disorders?

2014

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“…Social capital can be measured in many ways and is known to be associated with violence [30], [31], suicide [38] and mental health [39]. To measure social capital, we asked about satisfaction with living in the area (very satisfied, fairly satisfied, neither satisfied or dissatisfied, fairly dissatisfied, very dissatisfied), number of years living in a particular area (<1 year, 1 to <2 years, 2 to <5 years, 5 to <10 years, > or = 10 years), how many people in local area can be trusted (many, some, a few or none), and feelings of safety when alone in the area after dark (very safe, fairly safe, fairly unsafe, very unsafe).…”

Section: Methods Sectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This concept captures the assets, resources or ‘capital’ available to individuals and groups; it has been defined as community cohesion and resilience resulting from a rich associational life based on a strong array of co-operative social networks [11], [28]–[31]. Poor health and depressive symptoms can be a consequence of low social capital, isolation and inequalities, as well as experience of hardship, such as discrimination [32]–[34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Might Depression, Psychosocial Adversity, and Limited Social Assets Explain Vulnerability to and Resistance against Violent Radicalisation?

2014

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BackgroundThis study tests whether depression, psychosocial adversity, and limited social assets offer protection or suggest vulnerability to the process of radicalisation.MethodsA population sample of 608 men and women of Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin, of Muslim heritage, and aged 18–45 were recruited by quota sampling. Radicalisation was measured by 16 questions asking about sympathies for violent protest and terrorism. Cluster analysis of the 16 items generated three groups: most sympathetic (or most vulnerable), most condemning (most resistant), and a large intermediary group that acted as a reference group. Associations were calculated with depression (PHQ9), anxiety (GAD7), poor health, and psychosocial adversity (adverse life events, perceived discrimination, unemployment). We also investigated protective factors such as the number social contacts, social capital (trust, satisfaction, feeling safe), political engagement and religiosity.ResultsThose showing the most sympathy for violent protest and terrorism were more likely to report depression (PHQ9 score of 5 or more; RR = 5.43, 1.35 to 21.84) and to report religion to be important (less often said religion was fairly rather than very important; RR = 0.08, 0.01 to 0.48). Resistance to radicalisation measured by condemnation of violent protest and terrorism was associated with larger number of social contacts (per contact: RR = 1.52, 1.26 to 1.83), less social capital (RR = 0.63, 0.50 to 0.80), unavailability for work due to housekeeping or disability (RR = 8.81, 1.06 to 37.46), and not being born in the UK (RR = 0.22, 0.08 to 0.65).ConclusionsVulnerability to radicalisation is characterised by depression but resistance to radicalisation shows a different profile of health and psychosocial variables. The paradoxical role of social capital warrants further investigation.

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“…For example, a cross-sectional study on social capital and adolescent behaviour using US data from 1994 to 1995, found that higher levels of participation in sports and club organizations actually increased tendencies towards fighting and the use of weapons (Wright and Fitzpatrick 2006). Additionally, a study on social capital and violence amongst young men in Beirut found that different indicators of social capital have ambiguous relationships with violence (El Hajj et al 2011). How can we explain the divergent effects of social capital on individual violence?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ‘Dark Side’ of Social Capital: A Cross-National Examination of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Violence in Africa

et al. 2020

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Research and policy circles often emphasize the importance of social capital in achieving social transformation and economic development. There is also, however, potentially a 'dark side' to social capital. This study investigates the relationship between two different types of social capital-structural and cognitive-using two different measures of political violence: self-reported support for political violence and self-reported participation in political violence. We theorized that cognitive social capital will facilitate social cohesion within a community, enabling particularized trust between neighbours and a shared identity. On the other hand, structural social capital, or associational membership, potentially facilitates the diffusion of grievances and facilitates collective mobilization. Accordingly, we predict that higher levels of structural social capital will be associated with support for and participation in political violence, whilst higher levels of cognitive social capital will be associated with less support for and participation in political violence. We then test these predictions using Afrobarometer data on 40,455 individuals living in 27 African countries. Multivariate regression analysis confirms that indicators of structural and cognitive social capital have contrasting relationships with support for and participation in political violence. While particularized trust and national identity are negatively associated with political violence, religious and community associational membership are positively associated with political violence. In addition, we find that strength of attachment to a social identity, regardless of whether to an ethnic or national identity, is an important indicator of political violence.

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Violence and social capital among young men in Beirut

Cited by 12 publications

References 38 publications

Is Violent Radicalisation Associated with Poverty, Migration, Poor Self-Reported Health and Common Mental Disorders?

Is Violent Radicalisation Associated with Poverty, Migration, Poor Self-Reported Health and Common Mental Disorders?

Might Depression, Psychosocial Adversity, and Limited Social Assets Explain Vulnerability to and Resistance against Violent Radicalisation?

The ‘Dark Side’ of Social Capital: A Cross-National Examination of the Relationship Between Social Capital and Violence in Africa

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