The impact and mechanism of neighbourhood social capital on mental health: a cross-sectional survey based on the floating elderly population in China
Abstract Background Under the definition of positive mental health, the present study focused on the emerging group of floating elderly to explore the impact and mediating mechanisms of bonding and bridging neighbourhood social capital on their mental health. Methods The data were sourced from commu...
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05789-w |
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| author | Jiawen Huang Jiatian Gao Mingli Yao Shun Yao |
| author_facet | Jiawen Huang Jiatian Gao Mingli Yao Shun Yao |
| author_sort | Jiawen Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Under the definition of positive mental health, the present study focused on the emerging group of floating elderly to explore the impact and mediating mechanisms of bonding and bridging neighbourhood social capital on their mental health. Methods The data were sourced from community surveys in three major cities in Guangdong Province, China, with a total of 659 respondents aged 55 and above. Structural equation modelling was used to verify the hypotheses proposed in this study. Results The latent variables of bonding and bridging neighbourhood social capital were established. After controlling for the main demographic and social characteristic variables, bonding neighbourhood social capital had a significant positive impact on the happiness of floating elderly (beta=0.484, p<0.05). Bridging neighbourhood social capital was beneficial for alleviating the tendency towards mental illness (beta=-0.545, p<0.05). Physical exercise and psychological integration were mediating mechanisms that connected bonding neighbourhood social capital and happiness (RIT=0.313, p<0.05; RIT=0.674, p<0.001). Social adaptation was found to have a mediating effect on the relationship between bridging neighbourhood social capital and mental illness (RIT=0.088, p<0.05). Conclusions By incorporating the geographical concept of neighbours into the discussion, the findings support the utility of social capital theory in the context of the floating elderly population and Chinese cities. By classifying neighbourhood social capital, the impact of bonding and bridging social capital on different dimensions of mental health is revealed, further expanding the mechanism of the mental health effect of social capital. Cultivating neighbourhood social capital and transforming individual interaction needs into practical actions should be included in the construction of mental health promotion policies |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b1b8f37b8b6b4db88b8d3e835ffc9502 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-b1b8f37b8b6b4db88b8d3e835ffc95022025-08-20T02:56:12ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182025-03-0125111410.1186/s12877-025-05789-wThe impact and mechanism of neighbourhood social capital on mental health: a cross-sectional survey based on the floating elderly population in ChinaJiawen Huang0Jiatian Gao1Mingli Yao2Shun Yao3School of Public Administration, South China University of TechnologySchool of Public Administration, South China University of TechnologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen UniversityThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen UniversityAbstract Background Under the definition of positive mental health, the present study focused on the emerging group of floating elderly to explore the impact and mediating mechanisms of bonding and bridging neighbourhood social capital on their mental health. Methods The data were sourced from community surveys in three major cities in Guangdong Province, China, with a total of 659 respondents aged 55 and above. Structural equation modelling was used to verify the hypotheses proposed in this study. Results The latent variables of bonding and bridging neighbourhood social capital were established. After controlling for the main demographic and social characteristic variables, bonding neighbourhood social capital had a significant positive impact on the happiness of floating elderly (beta=0.484, p<0.05). Bridging neighbourhood social capital was beneficial for alleviating the tendency towards mental illness (beta=-0.545, p<0.05). Physical exercise and psychological integration were mediating mechanisms that connected bonding neighbourhood social capital and happiness (RIT=0.313, p<0.05; RIT=0.674, p<0.001). Social adaptation was found to have a mediating effect on the relationship between bridging neighbourhood social capital and mental illness (RIT=0.088, p<0.05). Conclusions By incorporating the geographical concept of neighbours into the discussion, the findings support the utility of social capital theory in the context of the floating elderly population and Chinese cities. By classifying neighbourhood social capital, the impact of bonding and bridging social capital on different dimensions of mental health is revealed, further expanding the mechanism of the mental health effect of social capital. Cultivating neighbourhood social capital and transforming individual interaction needs into practical actions should be included in the construction of mental health promotion policieshttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05789-wBonding neighbourhood social capitalBridging neighbourhood social capitalHappinessMental illnessThe floating elderly population |
| spellingShingle | Jiawen Huang Jiatian Gao Mingli Yao Shun Yao The impact and mechanism of neighbourhood social capital on mental health: a cross-sectional survey based on the floating elderly population in China BMC Geriatrics Bonding neighbourhood social capital Bridging neighbourhood social capital Happiness Mental illness The floating elderly population |
| title | The impact and mechanism of neighbourhood social capital on mental health: a cross-sectional survey based on the floating elderly population in China |
| title_full | The impact and mechanism of neighbourhood social capital on mental health: a cross-sectional survey based on the floating elderly population in China |
| title_fullStr | The impact and mechanism of neighbourhood social capital on mental health: a cross-sectional survey based on the floating elderly population in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact and mechanism of neighbourhood social capital on mental health: a cross-sectional survey based on the floating elderly population in China |
| title_short | The impact and mechanism of neighbourhood social capital on mental health: a cross-sectional survey based on the floating elderly population in China |
| title_sort | impact and mechanism of neighbourhood social capital on mental health a cross sectional survey based on the floating elderly population in china |
| topic | Bonding neighbourhood social capital Bridging neighbourhood social capital Happiness Mental illness The floating elderly population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-05789-w |
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