Heterogeneous social capital patterns and mental health in older adults relocated for poverty alleviation: a cross-sectional study
Abstract
ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to identify distinct profiles of social capital across of levels of family, kinship and friend, and community among poverty-alleviation relocated (PAR) older adults and to explore their associations with mental health status (depressive symptom and life satisfaction).MethodsA total of 1,8,155,115 older adults were included in the final analysis, drawn from an initial sample of 1,882 selected participants were surveyed by using a multi-stage stratified sampling method in Shanxi Province, China, under in a cross-sectional study design. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted using six social capital-related variables. Linear regression models were applied to examine the independent associations between social capital profiles, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, chronic disease status and health-related behaviors.ResultsThe LPA identified the model with three social capital profiles as being most optimal. The profiles were named highly integrated (29%), moderately adapted (58%), and generally weak (13%). Compared to the moderately adapted group, the highly integrated group reported significantly lower depressive symptom scores and higher life satisfaction scores, whereas the generally weak group exhibited showed the poorest mental health outcomes. Significant intergroup differences in education, chronic disease, physical activity and drinking behavior were observed.ConclusionDistinct latent social capital profiles exist among relocated older adults. Social capital stratification is closely linked to depressive symptoms and life satisfaction, reflecting forming evident mental health inequalities differential vulnerability. Targeted interventions tailored to heterogeneous social capital groups may be are urgently needed to strengthen support social capital reconstruction, improve mental health, and promote community adaptation among relocated older adults.
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026heterogeneous,
title = {{Heterogeneous social capital patterns and mental health in older adults relocated for poverty alleviation: a cross-sectional study}},
author = {Jing Wang and Hao Feng and Yuzhu Pang and Dianrui Yao and Le Yang and Jingmin Cheng},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1899673},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1899673},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Heterogeneous social capital patterns and mental health in older adults relocated for poverty alleviation: a cross-sectional study
AU - Jing Wang
AU - Hao Feng
AU - Yuzhu Pang
AU - Dianrui Yao
AU - Le Yang
AU - Jingmin Cheng
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/11
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1899673
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1899673
AB - ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to identify distinct profiles of social capital across of levels of family, kinship and friend, and community among poverty-alleviation relocated (PAR) older adults and to explore their associations with mental health status (depressive symptom and life satisfaction).MethodsA total of 1,8,155,115 older adults were included in the final analysis, drawn from an initial sample of 1,882 selected participants were surveyed by using a multi-stage stratified sampling method in Shanxi Province, China, under in a cross-sectional study design. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted using six social capital-related variables. Linear regression models were applied to examine the independent associations between social capital profiles, depressive symptoms, and life satisfaction after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, chronic disease status and health-related behaviors.ResultsThe LPA identified the model with three social capital profiles as being most optimal. The profiles were named highly integrated (29%), moderately adapted (58%), and generally weak (13%). Compared to the moderately adapted group, the highly integrated group reported significantly lower depressive symptom scores and higher life satisfaction scores, whereas the generally weak group exhibited showed the poorest mental health outcomes. Significant intergroup differences in education, chronic disease, physical activity and drinking behavior were observed.ConclusionDistinct latent social capital profiles exist among relocated older adults. Social capital stratification is closely linked to depressive symptoms and life satisfaction, reflecting forming evident mental health inequalities differential vulnerability. Targeted interventions tailored to heterogeneous social capital groups may be are urgently needed to strengthen support social capital reconstruction, improve mental health, and promote community adaptation among relocated older adults.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -