Social capital, and farmers' well-being in Guizhou Province of China: Is self-efficacy a missing link?

Social capital is widely recognized as a critical resource for understanding the well-being of individuals and communities. Although a vast body of scholarly literature focuses on the well-being of employees, students, and the elderly, the well-being of farmers has not been as extensively studied. Drawing upon Putnam's theory, this study empirically examines how Bonding Social Capital (BOC) and Bridging Social Capital (BRC) influence the well-being of farmers. It specifically explores the role of self-efficacy as a mediator in these relationships to fill the existing research gap. A combination of convenience and random sampling methods was used to collect 443 questionnaires. The primary data analysis was conducted using SPSS and PLS-SEM. The analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between BOC and farmers' well-being. In contrast, BRC did not show a significant correlation. Moreover, self-efficacy significantly mediates the relationship between social capital and the overall well-being of farmers. The findings indicate that while fostering BOC is crucial, farmers should also recognize and utilize the potential benefits of BRC to enhance their well-being. Promoting awareness among farmers and supporting the development and maintenance of BRC are valuable strategies for practitioners working in rural communities.