The relationship between social capital and health from a configuration perspective: an evidence from China

Abstract

Abstract Background The debate on the relationship between social capital and health is still ongoing. In order to enhance previous research, this study uses data from China to analyze the situations under which social capital is related to good health and the various configurations that result in good health outcomes. Methods Using CFPS data, conditions of age, gender, marriage, education, income, structural social capital and cognitive social capital were included to analyze sufficient necessary conditions for achieving good general health and their different configurations using the fsQCA method. Results All of the conditions that were listed, both in their states of presence and absence, were not prerequisites for excellent general health. The sufficiency analysis produced 11 configurations with an average of 3–4 conditions per configuration, and no configurations in which the condition of social capital was present alone. Structured social capital or cognitive social capital showed a negative state in configurations 1 and 2. The most prevalent factor in all configurations was the condition of age. Conclusions The relationship between social capital and health was both positive and negative, with cognitive social capital playing a larger role in the positive relationship than structural social capital. Social capital is neither a necessary nor sufficient condition for health, and it must be combined with a variety of other factors to promote health. There are a variety of methods to promote an individual's health, as different populations require different routes to good general health and a single route does not apply to all populations. In the Chinese population, an individual's age is a significant determinant in determining their health status.