Urban Health Resources: Physical and Social Constitutes of Neighborhood Social Capital

Abstract Based on a psychological stress perspective, this paper investigates the relation between the physical environmental quality and neighborhood social capital. A survey and qualitative interviews were conducted in urban residential street blocks with high and low levels of environmental burdens as a dichotomous predictor. The socioeconomic condition of the study sites ( very low and average ) was identified post hoc by a social index. Low burden level and average socioeconomic condition were associated with higher neighborhood social capital. Further analyses suggested that improving environmental quality and enhancing services and events may promote social capital in urban neighborhoods.