Exploring dimensions of social capital in relation to healthy eating behaviours in the US rural south

Objective:This study examined relationships between dimensions of social capital (SC) (social trust, network diversity, social reciprocity and civic engagement) and fruit, vegetable, and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among rural adults. Potential moderators (neighbourhood rurality, food security, gender and race/ethnicity) were explored to develop a more nuanced understanding of the SC-healthy eating relationship. Design:Data were from a 2019 mailed population-based survey evaluating an eleven-county initiative to address health equity. Participants self-reported health behaviours, access to health-promoting resources and demographics. Logistic regression models were used to analyse relationships between predictors, outcomes and moderators. Setting:Five rural counties, Georgia, USA. Participants:1120 participants. Results:Among participants who lived in the country (as opposed to in town), greater network diversity was associated with consuming >= 3 servings of fruit (OR = 1 center dot 08; 95 % CI 1 center dot 01, 1 center dot 17, P = 0 center dot 029), yet among participants who lived in town, greater civic engagement was associated with consuming >= three servings of fruit (OR = 1 center dot 36; 95 % CI 1 center dot 11, 1 center dot 65, P = 0 center dot 003). Both food-secure and food-insecure participants with greater social reciprocity had lower odds of consuming 0 SSB (OR = 0 center dot 92; 95 % CI 0 center dot 86, 0 center dot 98, P = 0 center dot 014, OR = 0 center dot 92; 95 % CI 0 center dot 86, 0 center dot 99, P = 0 center dot 037, respectively). Men with greater social trust were more likely to consume 0 SSB (OR = 1 center dot 09; 95 % CI 1 center dot 01, 1 center dot 18, P = 0 center dot 038), and Whites with greater network diversity were more likely to meet daily vegetable recommendations (OR = 1 center dot 10; 95 % CI 1 center dot 01, 1 center dot 19, P = 0 center dot 028). Conclusions:Findings provide a basis for future qualitative research on potential mechanisms through which SC and related social factors influence healthy eating in rural communities.