The relationship between people from different cultures trusting each other and co-operating has a positive health impact. Strong networks, good levels of support and positive relationships help integrate individuals and communities. They are important factors for good health and well-being. The benefits of increased bridging social capital include increased confidence and self-esteem. A sense of connectedness and belonging, and the ability to bring about change in a person’s own life or in the community, all contribute.
In a study by the Young Foundation, they found that neighbourliness is a crucial factor in creating a shared sense of belonging. The study defines neighbourliness as ‘the observable social interaction and exchange of help and goods’. In neighbourhoods where there is a high concentration of one cultural group, the study warns neighbourliness can lead to segregation. The study offers four factors to encourage neighbourliness. The first factor is that neighbourliness improves well-being and happiness when there is a shared sense of belonging in the community. The second is that neighbourliness facilitates mutual aid and support between people through daily social interactions. Interactions help build a comfortable atmosphere of substantial relationships and emotional support. The third factor is informal social control and cutting crime. More neighbours knowing each other and looking out for each other creates an atmosphere of safety. And lastly, the fourth factor is improving life chances. Children growing up in neighbourhoods with high levels of trust and strong local networks can significantly help with career progression and employment. Having the right kind of contacts for various purposes that provides access to new information and resources, enhances people’s ability to solve their problems. In relation to health issues, bridging capital has been proven to facilitate faster and wider diffusion of information. In turn this promotes healthier behaviours and controls unhealthy behaviours.
There are many benefits to health and well-being that bridging social capital provides in diverse neighbourhoods. The challenge remains in building bridges between cultures. In research by the UK Home Office, it is not surprising that more ethnically diverse areas have lower levels of trust. Similarly, the Commission for Racial Equality found that people are happier with people like themselves. In a World Bank study on the different relationship between bonding and bridging social capital on individual life satisfaction they found that those with more balanced attitudes towards family and friends and towards work and leisure are happier. What remains a determining factor in the levels of well-being and life satisfaction, as well as the degree of bridging capital in areas that are culturally diverse, is deprivation. This factor has a significant impact on how places are perceived and in turn how insiders perceive their place. However, not all deprived neighbourhoods are segregated. In the report on ‘Our Shared Future’ by the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, it was claimed that some areas with high deprivation also have high cohesion. This shows that local action can build resilience to its effects.
Emerging evidence suggests that bridging social capital is more economically competitive than bonding social capital because of the breadth and range of social networks. What this piece has argued is that happiness, health and well-being is determined by the strength and quality of these social networks. By bridging cultures to build trust, cooperation, and reciprocity, we are also building a healthy, happy neighbourhoods.
Noha is author of the book ‘Bridging Cultures: the guide to social innovation in cosmopolitan cities’ available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bridging-Cultures-Social-Innovation-Cosmopolitan/dp/1517157188