Informal Social Capital and Infection Prevention Behavior

Does informal social capital enhance infection prevention behavior? Previous studies show that formal social capital, represented by civic participation and generalized trust, contributes to pro-social behavior such as infection prevention behavior including social distancing under Covid-19. In developing countries, however, formal social capital is in short supply; instead, informal social capital, which rests on informal bonds and trust with particular people or groups, is relatively more abundant. Using the probability sample (N = 1301) that represents Turkey, we examined the impact of formal and informal social capital on anti-Covid-19 infection prevention behavior, measured by a four-item composite index. Four aspects of informal social capital were operationalized using the respondent’s reported experience in the previous year: (1) the frequency in meeting with friends, (2) the frequency in meeting with neighbors, (3) the factor score for giving social support to friends or neighbors, (4) the factor score for getting social support from friends or neighbors. The results of regression analysis showed that only social support getting had a significant effect while the other three aspects of informal social capital as well as formal social capital did not. Further analysis showed that social support getting had an especially strong effect on avoidance in meeting with relatives and friends but also moderate effects on mask wearing. Then why is formal social capital not associated with infection prevention behavior? Our preliminary finding from the structural equation model points to few signs of altruism or reciprocity among individuals with high levels of formal social capital: in comparison with individuals with low levels of social capital, they were less concerned about asymptomatic infection, which motivates infection preventive behavior. This finding runs counter to the expectation that individuals with high formal social capital are more aware of asymptomatic infection and try not to unknowingly infect others.