Are family, neighbourhood and school social capital associated with higher self-rated health among Croatian high school students? A population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the associations between self-rated health and social capital among Croatian high school students.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey among high school students was carried out in the 2013-2014 school year.

SETTING: High schools in Croatia.

PARTICIPANTS: Subjects were 3427 high school students (1688 males and 1739 females), aged 17-18 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Self-rated health was assessed by the single item: "How do you perceive your health?". Possible responses were arranged along a five-item Likert-type scale: 1 very poor, 2 poor, 3 fair, 4 good, 5 excellent. The outcome was binarised as 'good health' (excellent, good or fair) versus 'poor health' (poor or very poor).

METHODS: We calculated ORs and 95% CIs for good self-rated health associated with family, neighbourhood and school social capital, while adjusting for gender, self-perceived socioeconomic status, psychological distress, physical activity and body mass index. We used generalised estimating equations using an exchangeable correlation matrix with robust SEs.

RESULTS: Good self-rated health was significantly associated with higher family social capital (OR 2.43; 95% CI 1.55 to 3.80), higher neighbourhood trust (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.48 to 2.76) and higher norms of reciprocity at school (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.13 to 2.84). When all of the social capital variables were entered simultaneously, good self-rated health remained significantly associated with higher family social capital (OR 1.98; 95% CI 1.19 to 3.30), neighbourhood trust (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1.25 to 2.51) and reciprocity at school (OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.73).

CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of social capital were independently associated with higher self-rated health among youth. Intervention and policies that leverage community social capital might serve as an avenue for health promotion in youth.