Le capital social et la santé des personnes âgées

Social capital and related concepts are applicable to many fields of study, including health. Definitions vary, theory is debated, and measurement techniques have not been standardized. In particular, there is debate about whether social capital is relevant on an individual or on a collective level. In discussing theoretical aspects of social capital, this paper argues that the debate surrounding level of relevance may be partially defused by distinguishing between discussions of where social capital exists (whether it is a property of individuals or of relationships) and those debating how it is measured and accessed, and suggests that social capital and the related concepts of social networks, social support, and social cohesion, may be most usefully conceptualized as a continuum from individual to collective definition and relevance. The paper goes on reviewing evidence for associations with health, and discusses policy considerations with particular reference to older adults.