Social capital is a concept from sociology and political science for social interaction and contexts which enhance cooperation and confidence between agents in society. Social capital affects for example work life, economy and health in beneficial ways. Important aspects of social capital include social participation and trust in other people and trust in the institutions of society.

Since 2001 this research project has studied social participation, trust in others, and institutional trust in relation to self-reported general and psychological health, health related behaviours (tobacco smoking, physical activity, diet, alcohol, cannabis), total and diagnosis specific mortality, access to health care, sense of security in the neighbourhood and violence and threat of violence.

The studies have cross-sectional as well as longitudinal study design, and are based on individual- as well as multilevel data analyses (contextual levels city parts, municipality, county and countries).

Data from the MKC study, Malmö Neck Shoulder Study, British Household Panel Survey (BHPS), public health surveys in Skåne (2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012), school surveys in Skåne (2012 and 2016), parental survey (regarding small children) in Skåne (2014), and national ULF investigations (Statistics) are analyzed or have been analyzed.

Research cooperation with Centre for Economic Demography, Department of Economic History, Lund University, regarding conditions and exposure in early life and aspects of health in later life (life course analyses).

Portrait photo: Bertil Kjellberg, CPF