The “Dark Side” Effects of Social Capital on Harmful Drinking among Chinese Community Residents: A Multilevel Study

Xin Nie, Yongkai Zhu, Hua Fu, Junming Dai and Junling Gao
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Xin Nie: Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Yongkai Zhu: Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Hua Fu: Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Junming Dai: Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Junling Gao: Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Background : To determine the effects of social capital on harmful drinking (HD) among Chinese community residents using a multilevel study. Methods : A cross-sectional study conducted from 2017–2018. In total, 13,610 participants were randomly interviewed from 29 districts of 3 cities in China with a multi-stage sampling procedure. Social capital, including social cohesion, membership in social organizations, and frequency of social participation, were assessed using validated scales. HD was assessed using the CAGE four-item questionnaire. Multilevel models were developed to determine whether social capital was related to HD when socioeconomic and demographic covariates were controlled. Results : In general, the prevalence of HD was 8.18%, and more specifically, 13.77% for men and 2.74% for women. After controlling for covariates and stratifying by gender, compared to residents in the low individual-level membership of social organizations, we found that the odds ratio (OR) for HD was 1.30 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.07–1.56 among men and 1.95 (95% CI: 1.29–2.97) among women. Compared to residents in the low individual-level frequency of social participation groups, the odds ratio of HD among women was 1.58 (95% CI: 1.10–2.26). There was no association between district-level social capital and HD. Conclusions : A high level of social capital may promote HD among the residents of Chinese neighborhoods. Intervention to modify social capital under the Chinese drinking culture may help reduce HD.

Keywords: harmful drinking; neighborhood residents; dark side; social capital; multilevel modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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