Local community playgroup participation and associations with social capital

Issue addressed The study aim was to investigate the relationships between social capital measures and playgroup participation in a local residential area for parents with children of playgroup age (1-4 years) compared with non-participation and participation in a playgroup outside the local residen...

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Main Authors: Strange, C., Bremner, A., Fisher, C., Howat, Peter, Wood, L.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Australian Health Promotion Association 2017
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/56847
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author Strange, C.
Bremner, A.
Fisher, C.
Howat, Peter
Wood, L.
author_facet Strange, C.
Bremner, A.
Fisher, C.
Howat, Peter
Wood, L.
author_sort Strange, C.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Issue addressed The study aim was to investigate the relationships between social capital measures and playgroup participation in a local residential area for parents with children of playgroup age (1-4 years) compared with non-participation and participation in a playgroup outside the local residential area. Research indicates playgroup participation has benefits for families, however, less is known about the potential local community social capital for parents who participate in playgroups. Methods Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey from March 2013 to January 2014 in Perth, Western Australia. The data from a group of parents (n=405) who had at least one child aged between 1 and 4 years were analysed using multivariable regression. Reported playgroup participation (local, outside the area or non-participation) in the previous 12 months was investigated for associations with three measures (Neighbourhood Cohesion Index, Social Capital and Citizenship Survey and local reciprocity) that capture attributes of social capital. Results Participation in playgroup locally was generally associated with higher levels of social capital than both participation in playgroup outside the local area and non-participation. Mothers with two or more children fared better for social capital measures than mothers with one child. Conclusions Participation in a locally placed playgroup may provide an important opportunity for families with children of playgroup age (1-4 years) to build social capital in their local community. So what? Playgroups in a family's local area have the potential to foster locally placed social capital through community interaction, social networks and cohesion, which are important for mental health promotion in communities.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-568472017-09-27T10:49:22Z Local community playgroup participation and associations with social capital Strange, C. Bremner, A. Fisher, C. Howat, Peter Wood, L. Issue addressed The study aim was to investigate the relationships between social capital measures and playgroup participation in a local residential area for parents with children of playgroup age (1-4 years) compared with non-participation and participation in a playgroup outside the local residential area. Research indicates playgroup participation has benefits for families, however, less is known about the potential local community social capital for parents who participate in playgroups. Methods Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey from March 2013 to January 2014 in Perth, Western Australia. The data from a group of parents (n=405) who had at least one child aged between 1 and 4 years were analysed using multivariable regression. Reported playgroup participation (local, outside the area or non-participation) in the previous 12 months was investigated for associations with three measures (Neighbourhood Cohesion Index, Social Capital and Citizenship Survey and local reciprocity) that capture attributes of social capital. Results Participation in playgroup locally was generally associated with higher levels of social capital than both participation in playgroup outside the local area and non-participation. Mothers with two or more children fared better for social capital measures than mothers with one child. Conclusions Participation in a locally placed playgroup may provide an important opportunity for families with children of playgroup age (1-4 years) to build social capital in their local community. So what? Playgroups in a family's local area have the potential to foster locally placed social capital through community interaction, social networks and cohesion, which are important for mental health promotion in communities. 2017 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/56847 10.1071/HE15134 Australian Health Promotion Association restricted
spellingShingle Strange, C.
Bremner, A.
Fisher, C.
Howat, Peter
Wood, L.
Local community playgroup participation and associations with social capital
title Local community playgroup participation and associations with social capital
title_full Local community playgroup participation and associations with social capital
title_fullStr Local community playgroup participation and associations with social capital
title_full_unstemmed Local community playgroup participation and associations with social capital
title_short Local community playgroup participation and associations with social capital
title_sort local community playgroup participation and associations with social capital
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/56847