Neighborhood Walking and Social Capital: The Correlation between Walking Experience and Individual Perception of Social Capital

Heechul Kim and Seungho Yang
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Heechul Kim: Department of Urban and Regional Development, Mokpo National University, 1666, Yeongsan-ro, Cheonggye-myeon, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do 58554, Korea
Seungho Yang: Goyang Research Institute, 60, Taegeuk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10393, Korea

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between people’s actual walking experience and their social capital levels in order to examine the possibility of restoring weakened social functions of streets and public spaces in a walking-friendly urban environment. Based on the survey data of 591 residents of Seoul, we empirically analyzed the relationship between walking experience for various purposes and individual perceptions of social capital using one-way ANOVA and OLS regression models. As a result of the analysis, we found that the levels of neighborly trust and networking of people who experienced leisure walking were higher than those of people who did not, while there was no difference in the level of social capital according to walking experiences for other purposes. This result is significant in that it shows the basis for the restoration of the social function of neighborhoods through social capital formation of people as an effect of walking. Hence, it is important to create a walking environment that supports leisure activities.

Keywords: walking; walking environment; social capital; neighborly trust; neighbor networks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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