Abstract
Purpose: To identify methods for promoting social participation among middle-aged adults in the community, we conducted research on the relationship between the elements of social capital of middle-aged people and a sense of co-living in the community.
Methods: We mailed an anonymous questionnaire to 1,020 Japanese in their 40s and 50s living in the city Y in Japan’s A prefecture.
Results: We chose 295 valid responses as the subjects of our study. The study compared three elements of social capital and found correlations between “trust” and an “association.” The sub-elements of social capital that affected a sense of co-living in the community were “general trust,” “relationships in the neighborhood,” and “frequency of association with a coworker” (F(3.260)=51.77; p<0.01).
Conclusion: Our findings revealed that there was no relation between “social participation” and the elements of social capital of middle-aged people, while there was a correlation between “trust” and an “association.” However, because of the observed relation between a sense of co-living in the community and “relationships in the neighborhood,” we suggest that supporting social participation at a place familiar to them is an effective method to promote social participation of middle-aged people.
