This study examined whether each of the social capital dimensions (bonding, bridging, and linking) contributed to the adoption of health-protective behaviors such as physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on survey data (n=3,289) collected in Nagahama city, Shiga prefecture, multiple and probit regressions were used to assess the associations between social capital and these behaviors during three periods that were divided by the periods of the state of emergency declared in April 2020. This analysis showed that these behaviors were positively associated with bonding social capital throughout all three periods and linking social capital during the period of the declaration of emergency. The findings of this study indicate that social capital may play a crucial role in health-protective behaviors. In other words, it may be important to nurture interpersonal networks among communities and trust in central/local government not only in an emergency but in ordinary times to improve the effectiveness of COVID-19 prevention measures.

View full abstract