The Concept and Application of Social Capital in Health, Education and Employment: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The term social capital has been conceptualized and applied in different fields with different controversial connotations and impacts. Due to the variation in the conceptualization and operationalization of the subject, understanding the application of social capital in education, health, and employment remains incomplete. Thus, the purpose of this study is to provide a thorough review of the concept and application of social capital in health, education, and employment using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. Findings from the review reveal that the conceptualization of social capital is multidimensional in each context, with common underlining constructs such as social networks, connections, and a sense of community engagement in all three areas of health, education, and employment. Few reviews in the context of health and education extend social capital conceptualization to include trust, reciprocity, the interlinking of physical structure and social structure, and social cohesion. Furthermore, the conclusive consensus is that social capital leads to positive impacts on health outcomes, though negative outcomes may also be expected through behavioural contagion. The review found a bidirectional relationship between social capital and education. The findings for employment outcomes vary from country to country depending on the methodology used and the strength of social capital, with most studies finding a positive relationship with employment. Additionally, operationalizing social capital may benefit from both quantitative and qualitative methods, therefore, further studies using qualitative approaches to social capital may be especially helpful to understand what social capital means to people. It is also worth noting that the application of social capital is mainly within the context of developed countries; hence, further studies in the context of developing countries on the different types and impacts of social capital are recommended.