Social Capital and Wellbeing: A Structural Analysis of Latina Mothers By Origin

Background/Purpose: Social capital, which is defined as the benefits associated with social connections, is positively correlated with health and wellbeing. This correlation may be particularly important for vulnerable populations, such as Latinas and immigrants, both of whom encounter barriers to accessing health and social services. Yet, little is known about the impact of social capital on the health and wellbeing for native-born or immigrant Latinas. This study examines the differential paths through which social capital affects the wellbeing (including health) of Latinas and their children.

Methods: Data were obtained from the baseline (1998-2000) and nine-year follow up (2007-2010) waves of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a nationally representative study of single mothers and their newborns in large U.S. cities. Data were collected through in-home and telephone interviews. The study sample included all Latina respondents (N = 902). Using Mplus7 to perform structural equation modeling, we modeled binary and ordered categorical indicators to create latent constructs representative of social capital (operationalized by five variables that assess social capital), mother wellbeing (operationalized by six variables assessing health, mental health, and life satisfaction), and child wellbeing (operationalized by seven variables assessing health, mental health, and relationship quality). After arriving at a satisfactory measurement model (CFI = .983; TFI = .982; RMSEA = .019), we estimated an a priori structural model to determine whether exogenous variables (age, education, and financial wellbeing) predicted social capital, whether social capital predicted mother and child wellbeing, and whether mediating effects helped explain each relationship for immigrant and native-born Latinas.

Results: Results indicate our a priori structural model fit the data well (CFI = .982; TFI = .981; RMSEA = .019). For Latina immigrants (N = 339), age, education, and financial wellbeing significantly predicted social capital. Additionally, social capital was a significant predictor of maternal wellbeing (B = 1.501, S.E. = .263, p < .001) and a marginally significant predictor of child wellbeing (B = .394, S.E. = .081, p = .057). Social capital mediated the effects of age, education, and financial wellbeing on maternal wellbeing but not child wellbeing. For native-born Latinas (N = 563), age, education, and financial wellbeing were not significant predictors of social capital, nor was social capital a significant predictor of maternal or child wellbeing. However, social capital significantly mediated the effects of age (B = -.015, S.E. = .006, p < .05), education (B = .367, S.E. = .088, p < .000), and financial wellbeing (B = -.366, S.E. = .081, p < .000) on maternal wellbeing, but not child wellbeing.

Conclusions and Implications: The findings suggest that the impact of social capital on health and wellbeing differs by nativity. Latina immigrants and their children may disproportionately benefit from maternal social capital. Social service programs aimed at Latina immigrants may consider implementing services that increase social connections as a step towards improving the health and wellbeing of Latinas and their children. Future research is needed to assess the role of specific forms of social capital on Latina immigrant health and wellbeing.