The Relationship Between Social Capital and Children’s Health Behaviour in Ireland
67 Pages Posted: 12 Jul 2019
Date Written: July 11, 2019
Abstract
Several studies examining the role of social capital on children’s well-being reveal that social capital at different levels exerts an important influence on children’s lives. However, limited empirical attempts have been made to examine the influence of social capital on children’s health behaviour. This study attempts to address this gap by examining - to what extent family, community and school social capital influence the health behaviour of 9-year-old children in Ireland. Using wave one data set of the nine-year cohort of Growing Up in Ireland survey – a national longitudinal study commissioned by the Irish government. This paper used bivariate and regression analyses, to examine the relationship between children’s health behaviour and social capital in the family, community and school. Children’s quality of diet and level of physical activity were taken as indicators of health behaviour. The study found that social capitals in family, community, and school have a significant influence on children’s health behaviour in Ireland.
Keywords: Health, Behaviour, Social Capital, Children, Ireland
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