Current Conceptualization and Operationalization of Adolescents’ Social Capital: A Systematic Review of Self-Reported Instruments

Mikael G. Ahlborg (), Maria Nyholm, Jens M. Nygren and Petra Svedberg
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Mikael G. Ahlborg: School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, SE-301 18 Halmstad, Sweden
Maria Nyholm: School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, SE-301 18 Halmstad, Sweden
Jens M. Nygren: School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, SE-301 18 Halmstad, Sweden
Petra Svedberg: School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, SE-301 18 Halmstad, Sweden

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-25

Abstract: There is a great heterogeneity in the conceptualization and operationalization of social capital in empirical research targeting adolescents. There has not yet been an attempt to systematically map and psychometrically evaluate the existing instruments for measuring social capital that have been developed and validated for adolescent samples. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate the design and psychometric properties of self-reported instruments for social capital, specifically developed and validated for use among adolescents. The design of this study was a systematic review guided by the COSMIN methodology for systematic reviews of Patient Reported Outcome Measures. The search included six electronic databases and no time frame was applied. Twenty studies were identified as describing the development and validation of a social capital instrument for adolescent samples. The results reveal common denominators, but also great variation in the design and validation of the instruments. Adolescents were only involved in the development procedures of four instruments. There is a lack of social capital instruments that cover both the multidimensionality of social capital and contextual relevance in relation to adolescents. Careful examination of instruments should thus precede a decision when designing studies and further instrument development involving the target group is encouraged.

Keywords: adolescents; instrument; measurement; psychometric properties; questionnaire; social capital; validation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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