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While theoretical approaches attempt to map ancient childhood, the material and incidental nature of children's lives in all their varieties and differences, are crucial for understanding ancient childhood. Recent investigations into children in their living environments have shown attention to their clothing, childhood care, social relations, leisure and play, health and disability, upbringing and schooling, and their experiences of death. Children's lives and activities were framed also by the agonistic nature of first-century society, making them susceptible to structural violence in various ways. The purpose of the paper is to track and trace children's experience and in particular their agency in the ancient Roman world that were often hostile to little lives and bodies, and to consider the value of such studies for the interpretation of the New Testament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to describe a novel community development and how the synergies arising from the interaction of diverse perspectives (including arts and health, person centredness, co-production and shared leadership) have led to a transformative initiative for individuals and a local community in the Republic of Ireland. Design/methodology/approach: This is a descriptive case study. It includes the personal narrative of an expert by experience who is one of the co-authors. Links to short digital films are also included along with references to internal evaluation documents and published literature. Reflections from the nurses who contributed to the initiative and a university academic are also incorporated. Findings: A space in the community built around the principles of relational practice has evolved into an alchemical space, enabling creativity, recovery and well-being. The benefits arising out of this network of social relationships have contributed to personal recovery, integration with the local community and generated social capital. This has enhanced mental health and well-being locally. Practical implications: Statutory Irish health policy is reflective of developments in health care internationally, with an emphasis on greater delivery of care in the community. This views citizens as active partners in the maintenance of their health and well-being. This case study illustrates how this has unfolded in practice in a rural mental health community context. Originality/value: This paper adds to the evidence base that demonstrates the potential benefits of participation in the arts to individual recovery journeys. In addition, it shows that when arts and health perspectives coalesce with the wider domain of relational practice, the synergies arising contribute positively to the health and well-being of local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies how social capital is divided across classes in Chile, one of the most unequal countries in the world. We analyse the extent to which upper-, middle-, and lower class individuals congregate in social networks with similar others, while following Bourdieu and expecting that in particular the networks of the higher social strata are segregated in terms of social capital. We test our argument with large-scale, representative survey data for the Chilean urban population aged 18–75 years (n  = 2,517) and build an integrated indicator of people's social class that combines measures of education, occupational class, and household income. Our regression analyses show that upper-class individuals have larger networks and access to more varied and prestigious social resources than their middle- and lower class counterparts. Interestingly, however, we found a U-shaped relationship between social class and class homogeneity, indicating that network segregation is high at the top as well as at the bottom of the class-based social strata. In contrast, the classes in the middle have more heterogeneous class networks, possibly forming an important bridge between the "edges" of the class structure. These findings demonstrate that whereas social and economic capital cumulates in higher classes, the lower classes are socially deprived next to their economic disadvantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social capital is often cited as shaping impacts of participatory arts, although the concept has not been systematically mapped in arts, health and wellbeing contexts. In wider health inequalities research, complex, differential, and sometimes negative impacts of social capital have been recognised. This paper maps of social capital concepts in qualitative research as part of the UK What Works for Wellbeing evidence review programme on culture, sport and wellbeing. Studies often cite positive impacts of bonding and, to a lesser extent, bridging social capital. However, reported challenges suggest the need for a critical approach. Forms of linking social capital, such as reframing and political engagement to address social divisions, are less often cited but may be important in participatory arts and wellbeing. Future research should further specify dimensions of social capital as well as their nuanced effects in arts, and wellbeing contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper outlines the validation of a family social capital (FSC) scale designed using the paradigm of relational sociology, and its application to explore the relations between FSC and other forms of social capital (SC). An exploratory factor analysis employing a principal component analysis method yielded three components, which accounted for the "support", "unity" and "ambivalence" dimensions of FSC. A structural equation model was constructed to explore the relation between FSC and generalised SC and civic SC. The findings indicated that a satisfactory validation of the FSC scale was achieved, and that ambivalence is an intrinsic element of FSC, as studies on intergenerational family solidarity have demonstrated. Moreover, the support and unity dimensions of FSC were negatively related to ambivalence, and positively (and only partially) related to generalised SC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In post-conflict and segregated societies, overcoming high prejudice between groups is essential for peaceful coexistence. In this paper, we explore the roles of direct contact (face-to-face contact and cross-group friendship) and indirect contact (extended cross-group friendship) in reducing prejudice between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots living in Cyprus. Moreover, this study further explores whether the effects of direct and indirect contact vary between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, as well as across a ten-year period. To explore these issues, we analyze data from different representative samples of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots at two different time points (years 2007 and 2017). The results suggest that all three forms of contact have significant effects on prejudice. However, they also exhibit some variations by community (but not year of data collection) in the effects of direct (but not indirect) contact on prejudice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses how to explain the rise of a new nationalism in Europe. It begins by problematizing the inconsistencies in the current culturalist, socio-economic, and socio-political approaches. It then makes Pierre Bourdieu's theory of social space fruitful for a sociological explanation of neonationalism by removing it from the conceptional framework of national container societies. It finally shows that the transnational opening of national societies is accompanied by profound processes of symbolic appreciation and depreciation of economic, cultural, and social 'capital' that the inhabitants of the national container possess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Networking and being a part of an established business network supports the process of translating new ideas into marketable solutions and acquiring customers. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how aspiring entrepreneurs in a Danish rural area setting manage to get embedded into relevant business networks. Before the literature background on social capital and regional development, the authors use the embeddedness approach in explaining whether weak or strong ties are most beneficial to get the business started and how lacking strong ties can be compensated.Design/methodology/approach This paper takes an economic sociology perspective on social capital and is empirically based on a case study. The sample consists of a group of young aspiring entrepreneurs, living in the rural area of Southern Jutland, who are all committed to an organization which supports regional start-ups.Findings The authors found that aspiring entrepreneurs have different needs depending on their development status and type of innovation. Founders, who are developing or have developed new product innovations, seem to have an increased need for “strong ties” with consultants and those with knowledge about building up a professional network. Founders, who are developing or have developed a significantly improved service, have strong ties with former fellow students and researchers at the university.Originality/value This study illustrates that aspiring entrepreneurs connected to a regional entrepreneurship center gained access to a wider relevant network. Depending on their level of embeddedness, they could build new strong relationships and exploit information stemming from new “weak ties” and as such harness more benefits. The study shows that less privileged start-ups can substitute strong ties, especially through the support of professional managers of startup-supporting organizations. Finally, a model explaining the impact of social capital on the entrepreneurial sphere of regional business networks and on its innovativeness is deduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the dramatic expansion of private tutoring around the world, a significant body of literature has been produced to understand this phenomenon. While many studies consider the issue of geographic location, the spatial dimension tends not to be a central focus of private tutoring studies. In contrast, the present essay applies mobility theory to research from Cambodia, where private tutoring is essential to student success. It does so in order to place private tutoring provision into a broader perspective that includes but moves beyond the economic dimensions of supply and demand and the sociological dimensions of economic, cultural, and social capital to include consideration of how private tutoring provision is constrained by a multidimensional spatial field of possibilities and how private tutoring participation is enabled by one's position and abilities in relation to that field. The paper argues for increased attention to 'spatial capital' in studies of private tutoring and education generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to put the findings of the Secure, Accessible, Friendly and Equal (SAFE) Housing study, which explored older LGBT* people’s housing concerns, preferences and experiences, in a sociological context.Design/methodology/approach The SAFE Housing study was based on a mixed methods research design that included focus groups and an online survey conducted in two areas of England. The paper draws heavily on the theoretical concept of social capital to help to understand and explain the findings.Findings Findings are grouped into three broad themes: safety, comfort and trust; connections and community; and imagining the future.Originality/value This is the first time that an older LGBT housing study has used social capital theory to interpret its findings. This shows how a focus on issues of trust, social networks and connections is expedient to avoid reductive approaches in research, policy and practice to older LGBT* people’s housing choices, preferences and expectations that concentrate on the individual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish consumption in Mexico is considered low (around 12 kg per person per year) and non-homogeneously distributed across the country. One of the reasons for this situation is the scarcity of wholesale selling sites. In this context, the Mercado del Mar (MM), located in Guadalajara city, Jalisco, is the second biggest wholesale fish market in Mexico, with a distribution of about 500 tons per day and a variety of about 350 different species of fish. In this paper, we argue that MM has accumulated social capital, which is formed from two main resources: buyer and seller relationships, and reputation. Specifically, the MM manages a broad and intensive interaction among business actors and the already achieved reputation allows the MM to adapt to market changes. To validate our hypotheses, an empirical study was conducted in 2015 by means of interviews to fish wholesalers in the MM and a sample of their suppliers and buyers. For simplicity we have only considered fresh water fish. We have followed snow-ball sampling as the survey strategy. Results show that the MM has responded to fish market dynamics organizing a complex network of buyers and suppliers whose relationships can be explained in the form of strong and weak ties. At the same time, reputation has been the central resource to build this social capital and also gives place to market transactions. Additionally, the strategic position of Guadalajara city and the well-connected routes have facilitated fish bulking and distribution in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research studies have proposed the concept of social capital-broadly defined as social networks, community cohesion, and participation-as a social risk factor for health disparities and the high rates of schizophrenia among individuals of Caribbean heritage in England. However, many of the existing studies lack sociohistorical contexts and do not capture the experiential dimensions of individuals' social capital. This paper adds to the debate by examining the mechanisms and sociocultural processes that shape the understandings and experiences of social capital in a sample of British African-Caribbeans. Drawing on ethnographic and survey data collected over 2 years in a North London community, the paper focuses on participants' every day experiences and the stories they tell about their community and social fragmentation. These stories suggest that social changes and historical forces interact to affect the social capital and emotional well-being of local African-Caribbean residents. I argue that my participants' collective narratives about their social environment contribute to the emotional tone of the community, and create added stressors that may impact their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we analyze the non-instrumental dimension of social capital and its effects on subjective well-being. In the first part, we define the characteristics of production and consumption of relational goods. The second section analyses the influence of the different expressions of relational goods and social capital on individual subjective well-being. In the third, we test the explanatory power of this variable on the Easterlin's paradox using the results of a survey on individual social capital in Spain. The main findings from the empirical analysis for Spanish society allow us to strengthen the hypothesis. We found a weak explanatory capacity of income or educational level or instrumental dimensions of social capital (expert mobilization) while a strong link between expressions of relational goods (domestic mobilization, household stability, partnership, trust and security in the environment) was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within western cultures, portrayals of dementia as 'a living death' are being challenged by people living with the diagnosis. Yet dementia remains one of the most feared conditions. The sociological lens of citizenship provides a conceptual framework for reviewing the role of society and culture in repositioning dementia away from deficit to a discourse of agency and interdependence. Awareness of cognitive change, and engaging with the diagnostic process, moves people into a transitional, or 'liminal' state of uncertainty. They are no longer able to return to their previous status, but may resist the unwanted status of 'person with dementia'. Drawing on qualitative studies on social participation by people with dementia, we suggest that whether people are able to move beyond the liminal phase depends on acceptance of the diagnosis, social capital, personal and cultural beliefs, the responses of others and comorbidities. Some people publicly embrace a new identity whereas others withdraw, or are withdrawn, from society to live in the shadow of the fourth age. We suggest narratives of deficit fail to reflect the agency people with dementia can enact to shape their social worlds in ways which enable them to establish post-liminal citizen roles. (A Virtual Abstract of this paper can be viewed at: ) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the correlation between users’ psychological traits and their social network sites (SNS) usage patterns, and the correlation between SNS usage patterns and the development of social capital as it relates to Facebook. Individual personality traits, including user innovativeness and public individuation, are proposed to be positively correlated with SNS usage patterns such as usage rate and diversification of use. This study specifically classifies social capital into two types—bridging vs. bonding—based on Social Capital Theory, and examines the correlation between SNS usage patterns and social capital development. To investigate the proposed hypotheses of this study, SNS users in Korea were surveyed and a structural equation model was used to analyze and verify the hypotheses. The results showed that users exhibiting both a high degree of innovativeness and public individuation use SNS more frequently and in more diverse ways than users who exhibited lower degrees of innovativeness and public individuation. It was also found that SNS usage patterns are correlated with social capital. The results of this study contribute to SNS-related research work as this study focuses on the development of social capital—a key concept behind the creation and use of SNS—and allows for a deeper understanding of how the psychological traits of individual users affect SNS usage patterns and the development of social capital. This study also offers insights to the corporate sector by providing practical guidelines on how to utilize SNS more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The theoretical construct of social capital remains contested in terms of conceptualisation and measurement. The present paper follows the convention of distinguishing between trust, bonding, bridging and linking social capital, to conceptualise how religious communities promote and develop social capital within a specifically religious cohort. Developing this construct of religious social capital further, this paper proposes a measure for use specifically among religious communities to assess individual-level social capital. The Williams Religious Social Capital Index (WRSCI) provides a unidimensional construct of religious social capital taking into consideration the four elements highlighted. A sample of 720 members of six cathedral congregations in England and Wales completed a battery of items concerning social capital. Factor analysis procedures produced a 12-item index of religious social capital. Reliability analyses demonstrated that this index achieved satisfactory levels of internal reliability consistency. Construct validity was supported by the clear association between frequency of attendance and levels of assessed religious social capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social capital is attracting increasing attention, particularly as a means of improving health status. However, much of the work on social capital employs Putnam's (1995) formulation of the concept. This view suggests social capital produces generalised benefits, thus presenting an anomaly between the higher stocks of social capital in Australian rural communities relative to urban areas, and their poorer health status. This paper presents data on the experience of same-sex attracted (SSA) women living in rural communities in South Australia. It suggests Bourdieu's account of social capital is more theoretically and empirically compelling than that of Putnam's, because of its capacity to explain the harmful psycho-social consequences of exclusion for those who are samesex attracted. Moreover, the different experiences of younger and older samesex attracted people in rural Australia indicates the need to take seriously the claim that social capital is unequally distributed and experienced in different ways. A conclusion of this paper is that blanket claims to increase and enhance social capital should be treated cautiously because of the adverse consequences for some groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides a framework for reviewing developments in thinking about social capital over the last decade and for assessing future prospects. It argues for giving particular value to social capital as a phenomenon (conceptual and empirical) which is most effective when viewed in interaction with other elements of analysis or policy. Two forms of interaction are addressed: between bonding and bridging social capital; and between human and social capital. The paper then tracks some of the developments in the policy research debate in order to illustrate the dilemmas involved in the deployment of the concept. The fourth section poses some methodological questions and possible future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role of social capital in professional-client relationships. We consider exploring the effects of social capital on the creation of human capital, a subject which is worthwhile investigating within all professions. In this paper, we concentrate on what are known as the structural and attributive dimensions of social capital and aim to understand their effects on the knowledge acquisition of professional practitioners. We analyse the association between social capital and human capital (i.e., knowledge acquisition) in the context of the lawyer-client relationship. Through the application of social capital theory, this paper seeks to advance our knowledge of the relations between professionals and clients. More importantly, the study contributes to improving our understanding of the role of social capital in influencing a lawyer's ability to retain and win new clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention has been turned recently to the role that social capital may play in the promotion of immigration integration and social cohesion. The paper addresses an aspect of social capital that has been neglected: the application of social capital and its related concepts to minority ethnic families in impoverished neighbourhoods. This paper discusses the ways in which contextual elements in a neighbourhood may facilitate or impair the building of social capital for minority ethnic immigrant families. Research from focus group interviews conducted among Hispanic families in predominantly Hispanic neighbourhoods in Los Angeles show how residents face multiple challenges in social capital building due to physical, psychological, socio-cultural and economic constraints on their everyday family and community life. Contrary to popular conceptions that promote social capital building as the solution to social fractures caused by immigration and ethnic diversity, findings illustrate how communicative conditions experienced by minority Hispanic ethnic families may affect the constitution of their bonding, bridging and linking social capital processes. The potential impact of social capital on social cohesion will vary depending on the ways in which its effects are enhanced or diminished by the context of local neighbourhoods and the communication environ in which families are embedded. Cet article étudie la manière dont les éléments contextuels dans un quartier peuvent faciliter ou empêcher la construction du capital social pour les familles immigrées des minorités ethniques. La recherche sur la base d'entretiens avec des groupes ciblés (focus groups) menés auprès de familles hispaniques dans des quartiers à prédominance hispanique à Los Angeles montre comment les résidents doivent faire face à de multiples défis dans la construction du capital social en raison de contraintes physiques, psychologiques, socio-culturelles et économiques sur leur vie quotidienne familiale et communautaire. Contrairement à l'idée courante qui veut promouvoir la construction du capital social comme solution aux fractures sociales dues à l'immigration et la diversité ethnique, les résultats montrent que les conditions de communication vécues par les familles minoritaires hispaniques peuvent influer sur la constitution de leur capital social (création de liens affectifs, de passerelles et d'alliances). L'impact potentiel du capital social sur la cohésion sociale varie selon la manière dont ses effets sont augmentés ou diminués par le contexte local des quartiers et l'environnement de communication auquel les familles sont intégrées. contexte de communication, immigration, integration, minorités, communautés, capital social, familles hispaniques, cohésion sociale [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how care provision takes place in families across countries and generations and what are its implications for the individuals and families involved. Drawing on the experiences of women of Italian origin who have migrated at different times, the paper shows that families are complex and fluid entities capable of adapting to different circumstances, such as geographical dispersal and rapid cultural changes. Rather than being in decline, as some social capital theorists seem to suggest, the paper demonstrates that families are resilient units that continue to perform numerous emotional and practical tasks for the individuals who form them. However, even it is argued that families can be seen as a locus of social capital of different forms, the paper also shows how maintaining family connections and fulfilling family obligations both constrains and empowers the individuals involved in them, especially women who tend to do a bigger share of this type of work. Cet article examine la manière dont les familles se chargent de diverses responsabilités à travers les pays et les générations et étudie ce qui en résulte pour les individus et les familles. A partir des expériences de femmes italiennes qui ont émigré à des époques différentes, l'article démontre que la famille est une entité fluide et complexe capable de s'adapter à des circonstances différentes telles que la dispersion géographique et les changements culturels rapides. Certains théoriciens du capital social soutiennent que la famille est en déclin; cet article démontre qu'au contraire la famille est une entité sociale qui a du ressort et qu'elle continue à remplir de multiples tâches affectives et pratiques pour les individus qui les constituent. Cet article montre comment le maintien ion des liens et l'exécution des obligations familiales à la fois dynamise les individus concernés, surtout des femmes, qui ont tendance à accomplir une part plus importante de ce travail. familles transnationales, capital social, tâches sociales, Italiens, rôle de la femme et generation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores issues about the concepts of social capital and multiculturalism, and how their use impact on the lives of South Asian women. The aim of the paper is to contribute to current research on ethnicity and social capital by providing insights into the lived experiences of South Asian women in minority ethnic communities. It raises questions about power and structural inequalities based on gender and race, and points out how the two concepts are fraught with difficulties. It is suggested that multiculturalism simultaneously encourages and erodes relations of trust, obligations and reciprocity that feature prominently in definitions of social capital. Social capital and multiculturalism can therefore be thought of as existing in a relationship of tension. The paper begins by asking whether social capital is enabling or disabling and outlines the ways in which it has been conceptualized and its applicability to ‘the community’ and women in general. It directs us to the gender-blind analysis of social capital which has been contested by feminist scholars who point to the inherent paradox it generates. It is argued that multiculturalism operates at different levels, and in the context of minority ethnic communities multiculturalism can result in compounding structural inequalities and the oppression of women. On a more optimistic note the paper suggests that women, even under the most oppressive conditions, are able to create networks and organizations to challenge unacceptable cultural practices. Cet article examine les enjeux relatifs au capital social et au multiculturalisme et la manière dont leur utilisation influence la vie des femmes originaires du sous-continent Indien. Le but est d'apporter une contribution aux recherches actuelles sur l'ethnicité et le capital social en donnant des aperçus des expériences vécues par les femmes du sous-continent Indien des groupes ethniques minoritaires. La question du pouvoir et des inégalités structurelles fondées sur les concepts de race et de genre seront examinées; on démontrera que ces deux concepts sont remplis de difficultés. Nous suggérons que le multiculturalisme encourage et mine à la fois les relations de confiance, les obligations et la réciprocité éléments majeurs dans la définition du capital social sont à la fois encouragées et minées par le multiculturalisme. On peut donc penser qu'il y a une relation de tension entre le capital social et le multiculturalisme. D'emblée, nous posons la question de savoir si le capital social est positif ou négatif; et précise les modalités de sa conception, utilisation et de son applicabilité à la communauté et aux femmes en général. Ceci nous amène à analyser le concept du capital social sans différenciation sexuelle, concept contesté par les féministes pour qui il comporte un paradoxe inhérent. Nous soutenons que le multiculturalisme opère à plusieurs niveaux et, dans le contexte des communautés ethniques minoritaires, il peut mener à une accumulation des inégalités structurelles et à l'oppression des femmes. Sur un ton plus optimiste, l'article suggère que les femmes — mêmes sous des conditions des plus opprimantes — sont capables de créer des réseaux et des organisations pour contrer les pratiques culturelles inacceptables. capital social, multiculturalisme, femmes, communantés, ethniqnes minoritaires, oppression, agence politique [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper questions how an earlier generation of British social analysts (sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists and others) identified cultural characteristics of post-war minorities, valuing some and derogating others, and using such valuations to assess or measure these groups’ differential rates of success or failure in integrating into British society. Through a critical review of some influential texts in British social studies over the last four or so decades, this paper suggests that analysts today as in the past run the risk of their work being seen, perhaps mistakenly, as attempts to apportion praise and blame with regard to new communities’ contributions to a tolerant and inclusive social order in post-imperial Britain. It is implied that representations of cultural and social capital — where ethnic identities, families and kinship networks are concerned — demand a far more sensitive, intellectually rigorous and honest, and empirically and theoretically informed treatment than some influential members of a past generation bequeathed. Cet article questionne l'approche de la précédente génération des chercheurs en sciences sociales britanniques (sociologues, ethnologues, politologues et autres) concernant les caractéristiques culturelles des minorités présentes après la deuxième guerre mondiale dans la société britannique, certains étant valorisés plus que d'autres. Ces chercheurs avaient par la suite utilisé ces évaluations pour estimer ou mesurer l'intégration plus ou moins réussie de ces groupes à la société britannique. Par l'examen critique de leurs textes forts influents dans les quarante années qui viennent de s’écouler cet article suggère qu'aujourd'hui, tout comme pour le passé, les spécialistes (actuels, comme leurs prédécesseurs) courent le risque de voir leurs travaux assimilés à une tentative de distribution de blâmes et louanges à ces communautés nouvelles, au vu de leurs contributions à un ordre social tolérant et intégrateur dans la Grande Bretagne post-impériale. Vis-à-vis de l'héritage reçu, la représentation du capital social et culturel — en ce qui concernes les identités ethniques, les familles et les réseaux de parenté — ne demanderaient-elle pas maintenant un traitement plus sensible, plus rigoureux et honnête au plan intellectuel ainsi qu'un traitement empirique mieux informé théoriquement? minorités, communautés, capital social, valeurs, subjectivité, le chercheur et son objet, cultures, intégration et exclusion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper utilizes the results from three different ethnographic projects that examine the impact on distributive justice of Catholic faith-in-action. The contexts include interactions between the Catholic faithful and homeless women and their children, incarcerated juvenile felons, and Appalachian women seeking healthcare services. The research purpose of this analysis is to advance our understanding of the tension between the provision of material goods and services and Catholic religious orthodoxy from the perspectives of the providers and the recipients. Following a brief introduction, the manuscript presents a theoretical grounding followed by descriptions of the settings and results. The paper closes with a discussion of changes to the treatment of the poor by faith-based organizations based upon secular considerations of social capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper analyses several concepts of social capital to show what meanings have been constructed around the phrase, “social capital.” By looking at the roots of “social” and capital,” it demonstrates that the use of the phrase “social capital” is an inappropriate one. The phrase does not fit the phenomenon it tries to explain. Ideological roots of “capital” suggest that it is individualistic, that despite multiplication it tends to accumulate and concentrate often through exploitative means, and that it follows paths of gender and class discrimination. On the other hand, the phenomenon, which the phrase social capital captures, does not tend towards the individualistic, but to the social. It multiplies and spreads to families, communities, and groups. It also does not concentrate or accumulate like capital. By analyzing such contradictions in the phrase, the paper explores appropriate alternatives and suggests implications for policy and practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper explores the social context of “natural recovery” from problems associated with the misuse of intoxicants. Using data collected from in-depth interviews with 46 former alcohol- and drug-dependent persons, this paper examines how the social capital that these respondents had accumulated prior to their addiction and maintained during it aided in their recovery without treatment. We specifically explore how the relations within their lives and the actual and virtual resources available to subjects through their social capital aided in our respondents' “natural recovery” from drug-use related problems. We conclude with a discussion of the implications an analysis of social capital has for the treatment of drug-associated problems as well as for drug policy. [Translations are provided in the International Abstracts Section of this issue.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among various social factors associated with health behavior and disease, social cohesion has not captured the imagination of public health researchers as much as social capital as evidenced by the subsuming of social cohesion into social capital and the numerous studies analyzing social capital and the comparatively fewer articles analyzing social cohesion and health. In this paper we provide a brief overview of the evolution of the conceptualization of social capital and social cohesion and we use philosopher Erich Fromm’s distinction between “having” and “being” to understand the current research focus on capital over cohesion. We argue that social capital is related to having while social cohesion is related to being and that an emphasis on social capital leads to individualizing tendencies that are antithetical to cohesion. We provide examples drawn from the literature where this conflation of social capital and cohesion results in non-concordant definitions and subsequent operationalization of these constructs. Beyond semantics, the practical implication of focusing on “having” vs. “being” include an emphasis on understanding how to normalize groups and populations rather than providing those groups space for empowerment and agency leading to health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio audiences are today a mix of traditional radio broadcasting audiences and networked publics (boyd, d. [2007]. Why youth (heart) social network sites: The role of networked publics in teenage social life. In D. Buckingha (Ed.),MacArthur foundation series on digital learning–youth, identity, and digital media volume(pp. 119–142). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press; Ito, M. [2008]. Introduction. In K. Varnelis (Ed.),Networked publics(pp. 1–14). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press; Varnelis, K. (Ed.). [2008].Networked publics. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press; Varnelis, K. (Ed.). [2008].Networked publics. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press; boyd, d. [2011]. Social network sites as networked publics: Affordances, dynamics, and implications. In Z. Papacharissi (Ed.),A networked self identity, community, and culture on social network sites(pp. 39–58). London: Routledge). This not only means that new media is changing the nature of listeners/viewers, transforming them into interactive users, but also that radio publics, once organized into networks, may have different properties, different behaviours and different values. In this paper, we have employed Digital Methods (DM) (Rogers, R. [2009].The end of the virtual. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press) and social network analysis to understand the Twitter activity and the communicative dynamics of the audiences of two Italian national radio stations: Radio3 Rai (public service station) and Radio Deejay (private commercial station). This work also aims to respond to a question asked by Rogers when defining DM: ‘Could the information contained in profiles on social networking sites provide different insights into the composition and characteristics of publics?’ (Rogers, R. [2009].The end of the virtual. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press). Based on the results that have emerged from this study, we believe that the answer can be affirmative: the analysis of the social connections and the interaction models of the networked listeners highlights new features of these audiences, and allows us to reevaluate and understand them from new points of view. This work shows that the digital audiences related to the two radio stations clearly distinguish themselves for their distinctive online behaviour and a different display of social networks, cultural capital and affect. We therefore hypothesize the presence of three different types of capital within the two different audiences analysed: social, cultural and affective capital. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper describes and explores the relationships between the concepts of wealth creation and the normative structures classification of social capital. It finds that economic and sociological perspectives on social capital are complementary and provide a more complete understanding of social capital when merged. Together they offer greater power of explanation and permit a degree of reconciliation of terminology and concepts of sociology and economics. The merged theories offer a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of social capital and its place in the process of wealth creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Social capital has been studied due to its contextual influence on health. However, no specific assessment tool has been developed and validated for the measurement of social capital among 12-year-old adolescent students. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a quick, simple assessment tool to measure social capital among adolescent students. Methods: A questionnaire was developed based on a review of relevant literature. For such, searches were made of the Scientific Electronic Library Online, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences, The Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Knowledge, International Database for Medical Literature and PubMed Central bibliographical databases from September 2011 to January 2014 for papers addressing assessment tools for the evaluation of social capital. Focus groups were also formed by adolescent students as well as health, educational and social professionals. The final assessment tool was administered to a convenience sample from two public schools (79 students) and one private school (22 students), comprising a final sample of 101 students. Reliability and internal consistency were evaluated using the Kappa coefficient and Cronbach's alpha coefficient, respectively. Content validity was determined by expert consensus as well as exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Results: The final version of the questionnaire was made up of 12 items. The total scale demonstrated very good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.71). Reproducibility was also very good, as the Kappa coefficient was higher than 0.72 for the majority of items (range: 0.63 to 0.97). Factor analysis grouped the 12 items into four subscales: School Social Cohesion, School Friendships, Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Trust (school and neighborhood). Conclusions: The present findings indicate the validity and reliability of the Social Capital Questionnaire for Adolescent Students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPAs) raise serious challenges in terms of their governance. By applying a participatory approach co-management can help in overcoming many of the deficiencies of top-down management processes. Yet, despite benefits of co-management, it is still found to be the exception in the Mediterranean. This paper provides a review of co-management and the prospects for decentralisation in the European Mediterranean. The role of social capital (SC) in co-management is discussed and a framework for SC and participation to attain effective co-management is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper seeks to understand the way in which social capital resources are incorporated, appropriated and distributed by different social classes in Europe. Its main goal is to produce a conceptual framework by linking the concepts of social capital with the different theoretical assessments made by the sociology of social classes. We use multivariate analysis to work a set of quantitative indicators from the European Social Survey 2008 in order to assess the relationship between these concepts. Our methodological approach combines transnational levels, i.e., it is not an international comparison between European countries but an analysis of individual people and their belonging to social classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postgraduate physician assistant (PA) programs designed to train individuals for the workplace have existed since the advent of the profession itself. These residency programs continue to grow in number despite the lack of outcome data supporting improvements in PA learning, effects on career development, or improved patient care. Leadership bodies of the PA profession in the US have been at odds regarding the meaning and ramification of postgraduate programs on specialty credentialing, accreditation standards, insurance reimbursement, and employment. Using Bourdieu's cultural conflict theory as a framework, we analyze the issues confronting postgraduate PA training programs. Our paper discusses implications related to shifts in power amongst the different stakeholders concluding that, although formal postgraduate PA training can be beneficial to both the PA and the medicine, considerations related to underlying agendas need attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following Howarth (2007), this paper examines the relationship between class culture and social distinction in the empirical area of death and dying. For Howarth (2007), the sociological neglect of the end-of-life cultural practices of working-class people carries the danger 'of privileging middle-class agendas for change, … [t]here is an urgent need for further studies … and a refinement of existing research to draw out social class distinctions' (p. 433). Drawing on Howarth (2007), and Bourdieu (1984), it is argued below that the connexion between death and class reflects and helps to reproduce class-based identities, advantages and conflicts. Whilst class culture can be a supportive resource for working-class people, for example, in ways which reflect solidarity, more typically the classed nature of death brings acute suffering. Relatedly, it is proposed that stereotypes of declining respectability are reflected in some middle-class conceptions of working-class practices and identity connected to death. Such thinking socially positions working-class tastes as objects of disgust, and working-class people as disgusting subjects. It is concluded that, whilst Howarth's call is much warranted, the debate also needs to problematise the normalisation of middle-class ways to die and grieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper considers how our understanding of religious identifications may be enriched through social psychological theorizing on group identity. It reviews a range of work (for example, sociological and social psychological) concerning Islam and Muslim identities and develops the case for viewing religious identities as constructed in and through argument. It then seeks to draw out the implications of such an approach for understanding group relations. Although minority religious identifications are often assumed to undermine social cohesion, the social networks within and between groups can contribute to inter-group harmony. For example, reciprocal relationships characterized by trust and reciprocity can constitute forms of social capital that facilitate civic integration. Yet, how such social networks are used and how relationships are developed depends on group members' understandings of their collective identity. As this is contested, it follows that analyses of intergroup relations must attend to group members' identity-related arguments and the strategic concerns that lie behind them. The utility of this perspective is illustrated briefly with empirical material (arising from interviews conducted with Muslim activists) which hints at the importance of investigating social actors' own theories of social capital and how it can be developed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades, debates over medical curriculum reform have centred on the role of science in medical education, but the meaning of 'science' in this domain is vague and the persistence of the debate has not been explained. Following Bourdieu, this paper examines struggles over legitimate knowledge and the forms of capital associated with science in contemporary UK medical education. Data are presented from a study of two UK medical schools, one with a traditional, science-oriented curriculum, another with an integrated curriculum. Constructions of legitimate knowledge were explored at both schools through six months participant observation, interviews with faculty members (n=15) and students (n=37) and documentary analysis. Findings show that medical schools compete for both scientific and clinical capital, but ultimately science has greater legitimacy. 'Science' is defined in accordance with the structure of the traditional curriculum and has become a symbolic resource - a mark of distinction for both medical schools and medical students - which is equated with clinical competence. The significance of science is circumscribed by the medical education field, yet the struggles for scientific capital there have ramifications beyond medical education itself. It is argued that Bourdieu's concepts are particularly useful tools for studying the meanings that science takes on outside of the scientific field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two decades of New Public Management have placed agencifiction high on the agenda of administrative policy-makers. However, agencification (and de-agencification) has been one of the enduring themes of public administration. Agencies organized at arm's length from ministerial departments have fairly often been located outside of the capital or political centre. Although practitioners tend to assign some weight to central versus peripheral location as regards political-administrative behavior, this relationship has been almost totally ignored by scholars in the field. In this paper, based on a large-N elite survey, we show that agency autonomy, agency influence and inter-institutional coordination seem to be relatively unaffected by agency site. This study also specifies some conditions under which this finding is valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, networking and collaboration have become increasingly popular in education. However, there is at present a lack of attention to the theoretical basis of networking, which could illuminate when and when not to network and under what conditions networks are likely to be successful. In this paper, we will attempt to sketch the theoretical background to networking drawing on work in sociology, psychology, and business studies and looking at 4 main theoretical frameworks: constructivism, social capital theory, Durkheimian network theory, and the concept of New Social Movements. We will also explore differences between networks on a number of factors such as goals, activities, density, spread, and power relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a large scale cross-sectional study examining subjective perceptions of community social life held by a randomly selected sample of residents (n = 428) in all small rural settings (n = 89) of the region of North Aegean Sea. The notion of social capital was used as a conceptual tool in order to explore different aspects of the relational life of contemporary rural communities. This study has two aims: First to provide an account of rural residents' perceptions of village life in terms of interpersonal support, mutual aid, trust, social cohesion and community competence, and second to examine the suitability of the social capital notion within the specific cultural context. A combination of data collection procedures and a range of sources were employed, such as key informants, rural residents and researchers' field observations. The findings indicate that small farming communities of high devotion with deep roots and strong sense of belonging face severe demographic imbalance and experience low civic power given the limited links with external agents. The mainstream notion of social capital as an unconditionally beneficial factor is thus questioned. The findings call for revisiting its relevance across communities with varying capacities and needs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decades the topic of Organizational Social Capital (OSC) has raised great concern in both academic studies and managerial practices. Social capital at organizational level is usually understood as a multidimensional concept related to the set of potential intangible resources that are embedded within, available through, and derived from a network of agents' relations. Those resources facilitate business value creation having important implications for business professionals. Nevertheless, although so much academic and professional work has been dedicated to the concept of social capital, this effort has been mainly focused on the study of inter-organizational relations. Theoretical and empirical studies of antecedents and consequences of intra-organizational social capital have been scarce, which suggests that further research is needed in that matter. This paper explores the antecedents of intra-organizational social capital from a comprehensive perspective that integrates leadership as the main antecedent. To be precise, we propose that intra-organizational social capital is a direct consequence of an organizational ethical and community context to which leadership in the servant dimension plays a transcendental role. Indeed, since the seminal work of Greenleaf (1977) the servant leadership concept has been widespread among business academics and professionals for the value it brings to the organization not only in ethical but also in excellence terms. Among the recent styles and theories on leadership up to date, servant leadership its perfectly an organizational ethical context both at the organizational or group level, acting in addition as a main promoter of that context. Furthermore, servant leadership is linked to the cultivation of helpful, altruistic and servant attitudes among the employees which are useful elements in the generation of social capital inside the organization. A model then for understanding the causes of intra-organizational social capital with a focus on servant leadership is here elaborated from which conclusions and implications for Management will be delineated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How can the 'social capital' inherent in social networks provide contacts through which older people access practical and emotional support? What is the relative importance of kin and non-kin, and of participation in organisations and informal ties such as contacts with neighbours? Following a brief contextualisation that draws on previous literature, this paper addresses these questions through analysis of British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) data. It examines the extent to which people feel they can count on emotional and practical support from friends and relatives. A dependent variable was created that measures the outcome of the ' social capital ' residing in a respondent's social network. Relatively poor support was found amongst elders who were childless or had been continuously without a partner ; relatively rich support was found amongst those who had frequent contact with other people, who interacted frequently with neighbours, and who regarded their neighbourhood as a positive social environment. Being active in organisations had less effect on social support than informal social contacts. Amongst many different forms of organisational activity, the only ones that had a positive association with social support were being in contact with others through religious activities, and engaging in sports clubs. The social support of workingclass elders, even those 'well networked' in formal or informal ways, was strengthened less by their social capital than was that of the professional and managerial occupational groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is substantial evidence in the psychology and sociology literature that social relationships promote happiness for the individual. Yet the size of their impacts remains largely unknown. This paper explores the use of shadow pricing method to estimate the monetary values of the satisfaction with life gained by an increase in the frequency of interaction with friends, relatives, and neighbours. Using the British Household Panel Survey, I find that an increase in the level of social involvements is worth up to an extra £85,000 a year in terms of life satisfaction. Actual changes in income, on the other hand, buy very little happiness. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper shows how specific forms of social capital are arising as a result of particular practices of consumption. Social capital is defined as a relational reality that emerges from consumer groups, associations, and networks, formed around specific meanings and values. Among other examples of this tendency we point at communities of users (also called 'brand communities'), We explore different kind of consequences -instrumental and expressive-derived from those social bonds among conscious consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on the argument in both economic and sociological literature that religion is conducive to children’s human capital formation, this paper provides a model of religious participation and explores a mechanism that “social capital” affects children’s education, a la Coleman [Coleman, J.S., 1988. Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology 94, S95–S120]. The model generates several interesting implications, which help explain some important stylized facts about education and religion. Further, in a dynamic setting, the model shows that there exists a steady state in which individuals allocate a positive amount of time and resources to religious activities. Thus, it complements the existing literature to explain why seemingly unproductive religions can be everlasting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The current demographic landscape features an increasing number of elderly individuals in the care of some trusted other. Being cared for by a trusted other raises the potential for mistreatment of the elder by that trusted other. The goal of this paper is to explore die possibility of preventing elder mistreatment by increasing the bridging and bonding social capital available to caretakers, Attending to social capital lets researchers expand their focus toward areas rarely examined through current stress-outcome models (e.g., interpersonal interactions). First, elder mistreatment and social capital are defined and discussed. Then, a model is forwarded that details how social capital might mitigate the effects of caretaker stress and decrease the probability that caretakers will engage in elder mistreatment in both home and long-term care institutional settings. Finally, implications for future research and practical intervention are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]