Journal
CULTURE MEDICINE AND PSYCHIATRY
Volume 37, Issue 3, Pages 465-487Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11013-013-9322-2
Keywords
Social capital; Schizophrenia; Narratives; Social fragmentation; African-Caribbeans
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Funding
- NIMH NIH HHS [R36 MH081727-02, R36 MH081727] Funding Source: Medline
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Recent research studies have proposed the concept of social capital-broadly defined as social networks, community cohesion, and participation-as a social risk factor for health disparities and the high rates of schizophrenia among individuals of Caribbean heritage in England. However, many of the existing studies lack sociohistorical contexts and do not capture the experiential dimensions of individuals' social capital. This paper adds to the debate by examining the mechanisms and sociocultural processes that shape the understandings and experiences of social capital in a sample of British African-Caribbeans. Drawing on ethnographic and survey data collected over 2 years in a North London community, the paper focuses on participants' every day experiences and the stories they tell about their community and social fragmentation. These stories suggest that social changes and historical forces interact to affect the social capital and emotional well-being of local African-Caribbean residents. I argue that my participants' collective narratives about their social environment contribute to the emotional tone of the community, and create added stressors that may impact their mental health.
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