Socioeconomic Differences in Access to Neighborhood and Network Social Capital and Associations With Body Mass Index Among Black Americans

Purpose: To examine associations between socioeconomic status and two forms of social capital, namely, neighborhood and network measures, and how these distinct forms of capital are associated with body mass index (BMI) among Black residents of low-income communities. Design: Respondent-driven sampling was used to engage residents in a household survey to collect data on the respondents’ personal network, perceptions about their neighborhood environment, and health. Setting: Eight special emphasis neighborhoods in Greenville, South Carolina. Participants: N = 337 black/African American older adults, nearly half of whom have a household income of less than $15 000 and a high school education, were included. Measures: Neighborhood capital was assessed via three scales on social cohesion, collective efficacy, and social support from neighbors. Network capital was calculated via a position generator, common in egocentric network surveys. Body mass index was calculated with self-reported height and weight. Analysis: Multilevel linear regression models were used to examine the association between neighborhood and network capital and obesity among respondents within sampling chains. Results: Higher household income was associated with greater neighborhood capital, whereas higher educational attainment was associated with greater network capital. Social cohesion was negatively associated with BMI (b = −1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −2.39 to −0.11); network diversity was positively associated with BMI (b = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.55). Conclusion: The findings shed light on how social capital may be patterned by socioeconomic status and, further, how distinct forms of capital may be differentially associated with health among black Americans.