Effects of Social Capital on the Developmental Outcomes of College Adolescents: Evidence from Shanghai, China

It has been suggested that individuals are faced with more transitions and life-decisions in adolescence and young adulthood than at any other stage of life. Overseas studies have also suggested that during these time periods social ties might change. However, domestic research has spared disparate efforts in the investigation into college students’ psychosocial development undergirded by the deficit-based model. Drawing upon a sample of 1153 university students in Shanghai, China, this study investigated how family social capital, friendship qualities, associational social capital, linking social capital, and adolescents’ agentic personality influenced multiple developmental outcomes of college students in mainland China. The results of a structural equation modeling analysis provided a good fit for the sample as a whole. The overall findings support the hypothesis that higher levels of agentic personality were associated with better developmental outcomes of college students, including higher levels of resilience, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. Agentic personality also mediated the effects of family social capital, friendship qualities, associational social capital, and linking social capital on developmental outcomes.

The study advances the theory of social capital by incorporating its various dimensions into one conceptual framework, thus unraveling the mechanism of how family social capital, friendship qualities, associational social capital, and linking social capital influence the college students. It also advances the theory by testing it in a non-western socio-cultural context, thus potentially fortifying its universal applicability. Moreover, it is desirable that more programs for enhancement of agency building could be devised to foster emerging adults’ agentic personality. Family education, positive peers groups, associational participation, and linking mentoring are also anticipated to promote their optimal development.