Fostering Community Resilience through Social Capital

The ability of the public to remain psychologically resilient in the face of public health emergencies and disasters (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) is a key factor in the effectiveness of a national response to such events. Community resilience and social capital are often perceived as beneficial and ensuring that a community is socially and psychologically resilient may aid emergency response and recovery. This review presents a synthesis of literature which answers the following research questions: How are community resilience and social capital quantified in research?; What is the impact of community resilience on mental wellbeing?; What is the impact of infectious disease outbreaks, disasters and emergencies on community resilience and social capital?; and, What types of interventions enhance community resilience and social capital?A scoping review procedure was followed. Searches were run across Medline, PsycInfo, and EMBASE, with search terms covering both community resilience and social capital, public health emergencies, and mental health. 26 papers met the inclusion criteria.The majority of retained papers originated in the USA, used a survey methodology to collect data, and involved a natural disaster. There was no common method for measuring community resilience or social capital. The association between community resilience and social capital with mental health was regarded as positive in most cases. However, we found that community resilience, and social capital, were initially negatively impacted by public health emergencies and enhanced by social group activities.Several key recommendations are proposed based on the outcomes from the review, which include: the need for a standardised and validated approach to measuring both community resilience and social capital; that there should be enhanced effort to improve preparedness to public health emergencies in communities by gauging current levels of community resilience and social capital; that community resilience and social capital should be bolstered if areas are at risk of disasters or public health emergencies; the need to ensure that suitable short-term support is provided to communities with high resilience in the immediate aftermath of a public health emergency or disaster; the importance of conducting robust evaluation of community resilience initiatives deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study investigates how different facets of social capital affect community resilience in The face of disasters. There has not been a thorough study that examines social capital across various types of frequently occurring disasters and across the different phases of a disaster, that is, pre-disaster, during disaster, and post-disaster. Previous research on social capital has been conducted in both developed and developing countries using various disaster cases. To synthesize previous research, identify knowledge gaps, and set the course for future research, this study used a literature review technique. This method is both methodical and rigorous. The current analysis found a rising trend in the amount of research on the use of social capital in disaster management, demonstrating a growing interest in the function of social capital in boosting community resilience in the face of disasters. The findings of this study showed that community resilience in disaster management is influenced by social capital components. The study found that the trust and network components of social capital—which include trust, beliefs, norms, rules, networks, and values—have the greatest effects on community resilience. Greater knowledge of the function of social capital in disaster management and the aspects of social capital that are most important for fostering community resilience are provided by these results, which have a substantial impact on future research and disaster management methods.

Introduction/Background: Globally, and in the United States, where climate-related events including hurricanes, wildfires, and floods have intensified and caused billions in damages, population displacement, and public health system strain, climate change presents grave difficulties to communities everywhere. Often lacking infrastructure and resources, vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted and lack the ability to adapt or bounce back. Although infrastructure improvements and disaster readiness are important technical answers, without robust social institutions they are inadequate. Resilience can be developed and resources mobilised in great part by social capital—community networks, shared values, and group support. Still underexplored, though, are its particular contributions to climate resilience as well as techniques governments might use to properly include social capital into resilience planning. Materials and Methods: Using a secondary data analysis technique, this study addresses its goals by concentrating on qualitative and quantitative data. Examining more than forty sources—including official gazettes, policy documents, scientific publications, and government reports—helps one to understand the part social capital plays in building community resilience in the United States. Analysing case studies of successful resilience programs helped to pinpoint important themes and approaches for improving community resilience to climate change by substituting alternative data gathering techniques such as interviews for main data collecting tools. Results: Climate change offers important issues in the U.S., with severe weather events producing economic losses, relocation, and health hazards, especially for vulnerable groups. Resilience depends on social capital, as seen in New Orleans's post-Katrina recovery where networks enabled rebuilding; Paradise, California, where community ties aided wildfire preparedness; NYC's Red Hook, where local responses managed Hurricane Sandy's impact; Chicago's 1995 heatwave, where strong social networks reduced deaths; and Houston's Hurricane Harvey response, where grassroots groups coordinated aid. These stories show the value of social ties in building resilience. Discussion: Governments should prioritise establishing grassroots groups, integrating social capital into catastrophe preparedness, and increasing public involvement to boost climate resilience. Effective communication, targeted support for vulnerable groups, and multi-level governance coordination are necessary. Investments in community-driven early warning systems, inclusive urban planning, and areas that promote social relationships can strengthen adaptive capacity. Long-term study on social capital's role will refine policy, guaranteeing equitable and sustainable responses to climate issues. Conclusion: The link between climate change and community resilience underscores the relevance of social capital. By developing social networks and encouraging inclusive solutions, communities can better adapt and recover from climate impacts. Policymakers should prioritize grassroots activities and address systemic disparities to promote sustainable resilience against climate concerns.

Natural disasters have an impact on the socio-economics of society. Therefore, community resilience in facing these disasters is essential. Social capital is one factor that can help strengthen community resilience. This research will take an approach from social capital that consists of trust, social networks, and norms with collective action and community resilience. So, the research objective is to determine community resilience through collective action at the post-disaster recovery stage. Research was conducted in Ponggok Village to answer these research questions, which has abundant water resources as the village's superior potential. The Krejcie and Morgan tables determined the sample and showed the results in 248 respondents' families. The analysis used is Descriptive Statistics and Partial Least Square (PLS)-Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Through the analysis accomplished, the study shows that social capital significantly impacts 99% of the collective actions of society and government in dealing with disasters. Community resilience and social capital had an R2 of 0.316 (31.6%), a moderate explanation of the variance. However, this research still acquires confines despite the significant results. Therefore, the role of the community and government is crucial in achieving better resilience.

Using data collected from executives in 208 organizations, this study takes a configurational approach to examine how human, social, and organizational capital coexist to form distinct intellectual capital profiles across organizations. We then examine how investments in human resource management (HRM), information technology (IT), and research and development (R&D) differ across these intellectual capital profiles and investigate differences in financial returns and Tobin's q between the profiles. Results indicate that a relatively small group of superior performing organizations exhibit high levels of human, social, and organizational capital. Most firms, however, tend to focus primarily on only one form of intellectual capital, and a small group of underperforming organizations have very low levels of all three types of intellectual capital. At a general level, HRM and IT investments appear to influence intellectual capital development more than R&D investments. More specifically, HRM investments tend to be higher in firms with profiles high in human and social capital, while IT investments are stronger in firms with profiles high in social capital. Further, HRM, IT, and R&D investments are all very high in the group of superior performing organizations that have high levels of human, social, and organizational capital.

Purpose: The paper aims to explore how digital transformation is reshaping the management of intangible capital within organizations. It seeks to analyze the intellectual, social, and psychological capital roles as critical resources for ensuring organizational effectiveness, innovation, and sustainability in a dynamic digital economy. Design/methodology/approach: The paper employs a conceptual approach, synthesizing insights from recent theoretical frameworks and empirical studies to examine the interplay between digital transformation and intangible capital management. Key intellectual, social, and psychological capital elements are analyzed in the context of technological innovation, organizational processes, and employee behavior, highlighting their impact on strategic sustainability. Findings: The study reveals that digital transformation fundamentally alters the management and utilization of intangible capital. Intellectual capital benefits from enhanced knowledge- sharing platforms, automation, and artificial intelligence, which optimize organizational learning and innovation. Social capital evolves through new digital communication tools that strengthen collaboration within and beyond organizational boundaries. Psychological capital gains importance as a resource for managing stress, fostering resilience, and maintaining employee motivation amid rapid technological changes. Research limitations/implications: The conceptual nature of the research limits its empirical validation, suggesting the need for future studies to explore quantitative and qualitative evidence. Further research could investigate sector-specific dynamics of intangible capital management and the long-term effects of digital transformation on organizational competitiveness. Practical implications: The findings highlight actionable organizational strategies, such as investing in digital tools to enhance knowledge management, fostering digital communication to build social networks, and prioritizing employee well-being to sustain psychological capital. These practices can significantly improve productivity, innovation, and adaptability in the digital era. Social implications: By enhancing the effective management of intangible capital, organizations can foster inclusive and collaborative environments that benefit society. Strengthening intellectual and social capital contributes to community development, while prioritizing psychological capital improves workplace well-being, addressing broader social challenges like stress and mental health. Originality/value: The paper comprehensively examines intangible capital as a management resource in the digital age, integrating insights into intellectual, social, and psychological capital. It offers valuable guidance for academics and practitioners aiming to optimize organizational resources in the context of technological transformation. Keywords: management, intangible capital, intellectual capital, social capital, psychological capital. Category of the paper: Research paper.

The growth of online video-game players has seen a parallel growth in online gaming communities. Membership in these communities has been well known to play a vital role in shaping social connections and fostering social capital. This systematic review explored the role of interacting virtual identities in shaping the relationship between membership in gaming communities and social capital as an outcome. Online databases of Scopus, APA PsycNet, Web of Science, the Digital Game Research Association Digital Library, and the Association for Computing Machinery Digital Library were screened (January 1, 2000-October 23, 2023). From an initial pool of 5,720 studies, 33 were finalized for inclusion after quality assessment. Results highlight that interacting identities affect players' experiences of social support and social capital. The extent to which positive social interactions were experienced and social capital was accumulated depended on (a) the number of interacting salient identities and (b) the degree to which salient identities were marginalized in the respective gaming community. Prevalent identities in different social contexts (the non-virtual world, online gaming communities, and specific virtual worlds) and how their interactions affect social capital have been discussed. This study contributes to theory by demonstrating how intersecting identities influence social capital dynamics in virtual spaces. It also offers insights for community managers on creating inclusive environments that enhance positive social experiences and social capital accumulation.

This paper aims to improve residential preparation for natural disasters and their aftermath by identifying the critical capabilities for adaptation in one highly resilient U.S. county during an extended power blackout after a tornado. We present findings from a survey and structured interviews of residents of Madison County, Alabama who remained in their homes during a blackout following a tornado on April 27, 2011. In particular, we examined the technical capabilities of these individuals that were used to respond to expected needs and to adapt to unexpected issues. We found that even without intentional preparation, participants had technologies to support critical functions but lacked consumables and resources for emerging needs. Nonetheless, participants adapted well because critical items were mostly easy to use, additional resources were available in the community, and their technical knowledge and skills facilitated effective problem-solving and innovation. Critical functions identified for home habitability are listed with examples of versatile ways these functions were accommodated during the blackout. Additional research is needed to validate the proposed list of critical functions and to develop measures that can be used to assess technical capabilities that foster community resilience. Research is also needed to validate the proposed activities that governmental and non-governmental organizations could undertake to foster resilience such as encouraging lay community members to reflect on lessons learned and the usefulness of relevant household items during disaster training and practice drills.

A SNA-based methodology for measuring the community resilience from the perspective of social capitals: Take Nanjing, China as an example

The problem of poverty remains persistent in developing countries around the world. Poor households, particularly those headed by women, young people, and informal workers, particularly those who live in urban areas, are those most affected by vicious cycles of socioeconomic disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This condition, therefore, will lead to urban poverty issues that decline individuals’ quality of life and livelihoods due to the growing population and expansion of urbanization areas. However, there are limited numbers of empirical studies on the impact of community resilience on poverty. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between social capital and community resilience among urban poor communities. 481 respondents from urban poor communities living in the poor communities housing called, the People’s Housing Project (PHP) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were given a structured questionnaire by cluster sampling from December 2021 to July 2022. Data were analyzed using reliability analysis, correlation, and regression analysis. The findings showed that social capital is positively significant in community resilience building through having a good relationship with the community’s representative and having good involvement in the neighborhood. This study has proven that social capital in poverty adaptation among the poor should be given priority by the authorities in the poverty alleviation programs. The government must implement specific social capital policies and methods for upgrading the income of the urban poor with the aim of fostering resilience among urban poor communities in Kuala Lumpur in an effort to eradicate poverty.

This study examines the short- and long-term effects of intellectual capital (IC), social capital (SC), and natural resource rents, including energy rents, on economic growth in MENA countries. Using a panel ARDL model, the analysis covers knowledge-based assets, social networks, and dependence on natural and energy resources, while incorporating additional IC factors related to demographics, health, and poverty. The results show that IC has a strong positive effect on GDP, while SC alone has little impact. Resource and energy rents reduce growth, highlighting the risks of overreliance on extractive sectors. When IC and SC are combined, their effect on GDP becomes positive and significant, suggesting that social networks can enhance the effectiveness of knowledge-based assets. The study has practical value by pointing to policies that support innovation, skills development, and cooperation while reducing dependence on natural and energy rents. Theoretically, it extends endogenous growth and resource curse frameworks by showing how intangible and social capital jointly shape long-term economic performance in resource-dependent economies.

Objective: This study investigates the effect of intellectual, social, and natural capital on governance performance in middle income countries, addressing how non-financial resources shape institutional quality. The research is empirical and contributes to development economics by linking capital endowments with governance outcomes, which are central to sustainable development and institutional resilience. Methods: The study uses panel data from the Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index (GSCI) for 20 middle income countries during 2020–2024. Governance scores serve as the dependent variable, while intellectual, social, and natural capital are the main explanatory variables, analyzed through a fixed effects regression with robust standard errors. Findings: The results indicate that natural capital has a statistically significant and positive impact on governance performance, with a coefficient value of approximately 0.51, significant at the five percent level. This suggests that countries with stronger capacities to manage environmental resources tend to develop more accountable and resilient institutions. In contrast, intellectual and social capital do not show significant effects within the observed period, which may imply that their influence on governance is more indirect, requires longer time horizons to materialize, or depends on the presence of supportive institutional frameworks. Originality/Value: The novelty of this study lies in testing the reverse relationship between non-financial capital and governance and incorporating interaction models that reveal how these resources jointly shape institutional outcomes. Unlike most prior studies that focus on how governance drives capital formation, this research centers on middle-income countries and employs recent data from 2020–2024 to offer fresh empirical evidence on institutional determinants of governance. Practical/Policy implication: The findings suggest that governance reforms should integrate natural capital management within Sustainable Development Goal frameworks while enhancing institutional capacity in education and social cohesion to enable intellectual and social capital to more effectively strengthen governance in the long term.

To examine the impact of a 3year community-based violence prevention intervention on risk of violence and social capital in two poor urban communities in Honduras in 2011-2014. A quasi-experimental design pre and post implementation of the intervention was conducted based on data from two randomly selected samples using the same structured questionnaire in 2011 and in 2014. Community members had a 42% lower risk of violence in 2014 compared to 2011. There was a positive relation between participation in the intervention and structural social capital, and participants had more than twice the likelihood of engaging in citizenship activities compared to the general population. The intervention contributed to decreasing violence and increasing community resilience in two urban areas in Honduras. Citizenship activities and active community participation in the violence prevention agenda rather than social trust and cohesion characteristics was affected by the intervention. This research introduces important lessons learned to future researchers aiming to retrieve very sensitive data in a similarly violent setting, and provides strong research opportunities within areas, which to this date remain undiscovered.

Chapter 29 - Social capital and disaster risk reduction in a periurban context

International sales opportunities, consolidation of global accounts, and advancements in communication technologies have led to the prevalence of global virtual sales teams (GVSTs). GVSTs enable salespeople from different geographical areas, time zones, and cultural backgrounds to use virtual interfaces and work closely together on interdependent global sales objectives. However, as technology-enabled, culturally diverse, and globally separated teams have not lived up to their potential, researchers have called for furthering our understanding of such teams. Therefore, drawing from literature streams on traditional sales teams, global sales teams, virtual teams, teamwork in organizations, intellectual capital, and social capital, we offer a framework for enhancing the effectiveness of GVSTs. Specifically, we define GVST effectiveness, identify effectiveness enhancing components of the GVST environment, and examine unique dimensions of GVST intellectual and social capital that influence the GVST environment. We conclude with several directions for future research in this promising, yet underresearched, area and implications for practice.