Leyden KM. Social capital and the built environment: the importance of walkable neighborhoods. Am J Public Health 2003; 93: 1546-1551.
Summary: To investigate this relationship between social capital and the built environment the author analyzed 279 surveys from residents in eight Galway, Ireland neighborhoods. Study participants lived in city center neighborhoods, older/mixed use suburbs, and modern/car dependent suburbs. The author argues that increased levels of social capital in the more pedestrian friendly neighborhoods promote better mental and physical health.
General Concensus: Most students were enthusiastic about this article and for some students in the class social capital was a new concept. Several students had concerns with the cross-sectional nature of the study, the use of the odds ratio, and the low survey response but in general agreed that the article positively contributed to the growing body of work measuring social capital. Other students were concerned that the study could not be generalized to US populations because of our widely variable income and lifestyle disparities.
Additional Comments:
"As we have talked about often in this class it seems like we did not need a study to show that car-oriented suburbs decrease social capital." (EPI)
"While part of the study may have some recall bias associated with it from a very overarching viewpoint, this subjectivity actually makes the results of the study more specific to the individuals from which the information was obtained." (ENVH)