Social capital and social well-being among youth: Does self-efficacy moderate the relationship?

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between various types of social capital (such as bonding, bridging, and linking social capital) and social well-being among youth in Pakistan. This study also explores whether self-efficacy moderates the relationship between three types of social capital (bonding, bridging, and linking social capital) and social well-being among youth in Pakistan. The data were collected from 852 students selected randomly from four public institutions in Punjab, Pakistan. The descriptive analysis was carried out using SPSS software. While, partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to check the structural relationships proposed in this study. The findings indicate that bonding, bridging, and linking types of social capital and self-efficacy have a significant direct relationship with social well-being of youth. Self-efficacy moderates the relationship between bonding social capital and social well-being. Similarly, self-efficacy moderates the relationship between bridging social capital and social well-being. Also, self-efficacy offsets the relationship between linking social capital and social well-being. The results are suggested to be useful references for the youth while improving social well-being.