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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Deborah L. Thompson, MD1, Sacha Z. Pampalone, MPH1, Bruce D. Cooper, MD, MSPH1, Susan J. Hewitt, MS1, Carol Plock, MSW1, and James N Burdine, Dr PH2. (1) Evaluation Team, Poudre Health Services District, 120 Bristlecone Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524, (970) 224-5209, dlt3@cornell.edu, (2) Community Health Development Program, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University, 3000 Briarcrest Drive, Suite 310, Bryan, TX 77802
Introduction: Social capital is the collective trust members of a community have for one another, their involvement in the community, the networks and social support they have available, and how the community works together to solve problems. While generally thought of as an ecological measure, it can also be analyzed at an individual level. Not only is social capital thought to be related to a population’s current health status, but it is hypothesized that it also enhances a community’s ability to improve the population’s health status. A factor that may contribute to this ability is the relationship between social capital and readiness to change risk behaviors.
Methods: A random sample community survey was completed in 1998 and 2001 by Health District residents (mean n=1500). Questions were asked pertaining to readiness to change risk behaviors such as poor eating habits, smoking, and physical inactivity. Social capital was assessed through questions pertaining to civic involvement, trust, perceptions of disparity and influence over the environment, social support, and religiosity.
Results: This session will discuss the associations between social capital and readiness to change both at the ecological and individual levels. The ecological level assessment will be done through a geographic comparison of two neighboring communities, as well as a comparison of one community at two points in time.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Community Assets, Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.