Assessing the Role of Social Capital in Promoting Water Conservation: A Study of Egyptian Universities

This study investigates the role of social capital in shaping environmental responsibility concerning water issues across three Egyptian universities: Beni Suef, Ain Shams, and Alexandria. Using the 36-item Bullen and Onyx social capital scale, a survey of approximately 120 participants was conducted to assess whether social capital and demographic factors influence a sense of responsibility toward water conservation. Logistic regression analysis revealed that social capital was the only significant predictor of responsibility for water-related issues, while demographic factors such as gender, age, and qualifications did not have significant effects. Although the model as a whole was not statistically significant, these findings underscore the value of social capital in water management policies and strategies, suggesting it could play a key role in fostering community engagement and environmental stewardship. Future studies would benefit from a larger, more diverse sample that includes both public and private universities, as well as an enhanced social capital measure accounting for digital networks, income, and longitudinal data to strengthen the findings’ relevance and impact.