Social Capital and well-being of South Asians in Hong Kong

Social capital is important to aging people’s health and well-being as the relationships facilitate access to valuable resources, enhance social connections, and strengthen social support. Yet, research on the role of social capital of aging ethnic minorities in non-western societies has been scant. This study examined the effects of social capital on the health and well-being of aging South Asians in Hong Kong, a predominant Chinese society. A purposive sample of 215 older South Asian people aged 55 and above took part in face-to-face survey interview in the period of COVID-19 pandemic. A 25-item of the World Bank’s Social Capital Assessment Tool was used to measure the six dimensions of social capital including social participation, social support, social connection, trust, cohesion, and reciprocity. The results of hierarchical linear regression revealed that except for social support, all other five dimensions of social capital were associated with better health and well-being among aging South Asians. The social connection dimension showed the strongest positive correlation with the health and well-being variables when compared with the other four dimensions. The findings further substantiated the importance of social capital for aging people from ethnic minority backgrounds. Thus, policy strategies and programs should consider how to enhance the various dimensions of social capital, particularly in social connection, social participation, trust, and belonging. Existing approaches and efforts for building social capital should be further examined for their relevancy and adaptability for aging adults in unique ethnic cultural contexts.