Social capital and perceived psychological well-being in the Somali Regional State, Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional survey

Social capital plays a crucial role in psychological well-being by fostering trust, facilitating information sharing, and promoting reciprocal support. This study examined the relationship between social capital and perceived psychological well-being and identified key predictors for both constructs among individuals aged 15 to 49 years residing in the Fafan and Jarer Zones of the Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. A total of 303 participants were recruited using a stratified sampling procedure, incorporating systematic household sampling and simple random selection of eligible individuals. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, including validated scales measuring social capital and psychological well-being. Correlational analyses indicated significant positive associations between social capital and overall psychological well-being (r = .67, p < .001), with personal autonomy (r = .72, p < .001) and environmental mastery (r = .58, p < .001) showing the strongest relationships. Regression analyses revealed that marital status, educational level, and length of residence significantly predicted social capital, whereas social capital, educational level, and length of residence predicted psychological well-being (F (4, 294) = 99.40, p < .001, R² = .57); gender did not significantly predict either outcome. ANOVA results further indicated that familial social identification was significantly associated with psychological well-being, whereas neighborhood social identification was not. These findings highlight the significance of policies and interventions that foster social capital to promote and enhance psychological well-being.