Social Capital and Health in a National Cohort of 82,482 Open University Adults in Thailand
Journal of Health Psychology, Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 632-642, 2011
11 Pages Posted: 13 Jul 2011 Last revised: 12 Aug 2014
Date Written: July 11, 2011
Abstract
We report associations between social capital and health among 82,482 adults in a national cohort of Open University students residing throughout Thailand.After adjusting for covariates, poor self-assessed health was positively associated with low social trust (OR = 1.88; 95% CI 1.76-2.01) and low social support (OR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.63-1.95). In addition, poor psychological health was also associated with low social trust (OR = 2.52; 95% CI 2.41-2.64) and low social support (OR = 1.80; 95% CI 1.69-1.92). Females, elderly, unpartnered, low income, and urban residents were associated with poor health. Findings suggest ways to improve social capital and heath in Thailand and other middle-income countries.
Keywords: social capital, social trust, self-assessed health, psychological health, Thailand
JEL Classification: I00, I10
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation