The impacts of community social capital on the life satisfaction of older adults in Hong Kong: the moderator role of intergenerational family capital

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the moderator role of intergenerational family capital on the relationship between community social capital and life satisfaction of older Chinese adults. METHOD: The data were derived from a quota sampling of 372 older adults aged 60 and above, who were interviewed at four districts in Hong Kong in 2011. Multiple group analysis was employed to examine the proposed model. RESULTS: For the low family capital group, community social capital was found to be a significant predictor of life satisfaction, even when the well-known covariates were controlled. However, the association between community social capital and life satisfaction was statistically non-significant among the high family capital group. DISCUSSION: The findings highlighted the interplay between community social capital and intergenerational family capital, which supported community social capital replacement theory in understanding the mechanism linking social capital to life satisfaction in older age in a Chinese context. Community social capital can play a compensatory role in maintaining the mental health of older people. It is particularly important for older adults who lack family support and/or suffer from social isolation and loneliness in local communities.