Family Social Capital as a Predictor of Adolescent Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, family social capital may have played a key role in maintaining adolescent health, as they faced challenges such as social isolation and disruptions to their regular activities. Accordingly, the primary aim of this study was to examine the association between family social capital and adolescents’ subjective health assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study included 317 final-year high school students from the four largest cities in Croatia (Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek). The participants were aged between 17 and 20 years (18.24±0.58). Data were collected through survey questionnaires titled Social Capital and Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic, which included demographic information, assessments of family social capital, and subjective health. Descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results of the study indicate that parental support and understanding, as well as quality family time, are key elements in maintaining and improving adolescents’ subjective health assessments. These findings emphasize the importance of family social capital in preserving the health of young people during crisis situations. Moreover, these insights have significant implications for the design of interventions and programs aimed at strengthening family bonds and support as a means of improving youth health.