Examining the interrelationship between self-reported health and social capital

Background Individuals prefer a higher health status, to be part of social relationships that are built on mutual trust and to have a sense of belonging. Hence, being healthy and part of a social capital (SC) are important facets of life that impact on each other. However, developing countries like South Africa have poor health outcomes and rank low when it comes to SC. Because of limited – developing countries’ studies, consistency in results, studies examining effects of self-reported health (SRH) on SC and the likelihood of simultaneity, the study aims to examine the interrelationship between social capital and self-reported health in South Africa. Methods Using South Africa’s national household panel study, National Income Dynamics Study (NIDs), the study examines the interrelationship and attempts to solve the endogeneity problem by employing the Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) regression. Results The effects of social capital on SRH differ per measure of SC. SRH also affects SC differently depending on measure of SC. After controlling for simultaneity, the study found a positive association between social capital and self-reported health. Conclusion These findings may prove important for SA’s health policy since SA is one of those countries with poor health infrastructure where SC may play a vital role in improving health. There are many ways to improve the country’s health status, some of which lie with the communities themselves. SA’s policymakers ought to be cognisant of SC’s positive influence on health.