Measuring Social Cohesion and Social Capital within the Context of Community Food Security: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Abstract

This study uses a community food security (CFS) framework to understand how social capital and social cohesion may address food security. We assessed the presence of these constructs using a confirmatory factor analysis in the context of a community food assessment (N = 563). Social capital, social cohesion, and community food participation (e.g., CSAs, farmers’ markets, gardens) were unique factor structures that could lead to development and testing community-based interventions to improve food security, food access, and health. We provide a discussion of the conceptualization and measurement of these constructs, and offer areas of improvement helpful to practitioners and researchers.