abstract: 'Background- Many studies suggest that social capital, defined as those

  intangible resources of a society or community (trust, participation and

  reciprocity), that might facilitate collective action, can be associated

  with positive health effects. Aim: To explore the relationship between

  social capital an the level of mental health, in urban communities of

  Santiago, Chile. Material and methods: In a qualitative-quantitative

  cross-sectional design, two low income neighborboods in the municipality

  of Puente Alto were selected. Interviews to key agents and focus groups,

  as well as surveys (407) to adults from a representative random sample

  of households, were conducted, measuring social capital using a locally

  devised questionnaire and mental health using the General Health

  Questionnaire (GHQ-12 instrument). A qualitative analysis based on the

  grounded theory and a quantitative analysis through correlations and

  simple and logistic regression models were applied. Results. The

  quantitative analysis found an association between female gender

  education and having a chronic disease, with low levels of mental

  health. At the same time, the trust component of social capital might be

  associated with a better mental bealth status. Qualitatively all the

  components of social capital were identified as important for a better

  mental health. Conclusions. This study suggests the existence of a

  positive relationship between social capital and mental health.

  Developing trust in a community might be a useful tool to work in mental

  health at the community level.'
affiliation: 'Poblete, FC (Corresponding Author), Pontificia Univ Catolica Chile,
  Dept Med Familiar, Escuela Med, Lira 40, Santiago 10, Chile.

  Poblete, Fernando C.; Sapag, Jaime C., Pontificia Univ Catolica Chile, Dept Med
  Familiar, Escuela Med, Santiago 10, Chile.

  Bossert, Thomas J., Harvard Univ, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Populat \& Int Hlth, Cambridge,
  MA 02138 USA.'
author: Poblete, Fernando C. and Sapag, Jaime C. and Bossert, Thomas J.
author-email: fpoblete@med.puc.cl
author_list:
- family: Poblete
  given: Fernando C.
- family: Sapag
  given: Jaime C.
- family: Bossert
  given: Thomas J.
da: '2023-09-28'
eissn: 0717-6163
files: []
issn: 0034-9887
journal: REVISTA MEDICA DE CHILE
keywords: mental health; population characteristics; socio economic factors
keywords-plus: 'POLITICAL-ECONOMY; PUBLIC-HEALTH; PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS; ASSOCIATION;

  PREVALENCE; ENVIRONMENT; INEQUALITY; CARE'
language: English
month: FEB
number: '2'
number-of-cited-references: '47'
orcid-numbers: Sapag, Jaime C./0000-0003-2227-8233
pages: 230-239
papis_id: d50f138f19e4c7e4a0e6f7f275ee64fb
ref: Poblete2008socialcapital
times-cited: '17'
title: Social capital and mental health in low income urban communities in Santiago,
  Chile
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000255012700014
usage-count-last-180-days: '1'
usage-count-since-2013: '15'
volume: '136'
web-of-science-categories: Medicine, General \& Internal
year: '2008'