Moammad Bagher Alizadehaghdam
1* 
, Kamal Gholipour
2 , Mahmood Feizi Pirsoltan
3 1 Department of Social Sciences, Center of Excellence in Health Sociology, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran
2 Department of Health Management and Policy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
3 Department of Social Sciences, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Background. The health of retirees, as an expanding and vulnerable group, is of particular importance in society, and it is necessary to prioritize their problems in critical situations such as the spread of the coronavirus. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of social and cultural capital on the level of fear of COVID-19 among retired employees of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (TUOMS).
Methods. This survey-based research employed a descriptive-explanatory design and was practical in terms of purpose. This study selected 410 retirees from TUOMS in Iran using a simple random sampling method. The data collection tools in this study included three questionnaires: cultural capital, social capital, and fear of COVID-19. We tested the research hypotheses using SPSS software (version 22).
Results. The bivariate results of the study indicated that social capital and its dimensions (social networks, social trust, and social participation) and cultural capital and its dimensions (embodied, objective, and institutional) had a significant and inversed effect on the level of fear of COVID-19 among the retirees. The regression model of fear of COVID-19 also found that both independent variables (social capital and cultural capital) were statistically significant and could explain about 36% and 31% of the changes in the dependent variable (fear of COVID-19 among retirees), respectively.
Conclusion. This study indicated a significant and inverse relationship between social and cultural capital and the level of fear of COVID-19 among the retirees of TUOMS. The findings of the present study can be generalized to all retired TUOMS employees. Therefore, healthcare policymakers should take effective measures to increase the funds allocated to diseases such as COVID-19 and reduce the fear of the disease, which is a risk factor for physical and mental diseases.
Extended Abstract
Background
The health of retirees, as an expanding and vulnerable segment of society, is of particular importance. It is crucial to prioritize addressing their issues during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering that fear of illness can exacerbate the impact of the disease, attention to factors like social capital and cultural capital, which can act as moderators of fear, is necessary for managing fear of illness. This study aimed to investigate the effect of social capital and cultural capital on the level of fear of COVID-19 among retired employees of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.
Methods
This survey research is applied and uses a descriptive-explanatory approach. A total of 410 retirees from TUOMS were selected using simple random sampling. The inclusion criteria included willingness to participate in the research and retirement from TUOMS. Exclusion criteria included unwillingness to cooperate, incomplete questionnaires, or withdrawal during or after completing the questionnaire. After contacting the participants and agreeing on the time and place, the questionnaires were completed over three months.
The measurement tools included three questionnaires: Bourdieu’s Cultural Capital, Moosazadeh and Alizadeh’s Social Capital, and Ahorsu et al.'s Fear of COVID-19. The modified Bourdieu Cultural Capital Questionnaire contains 18 questions and three subscales: embodied, objectified, and institutionalized. Cultural capital was categorized as low (18-40), moderate (41-65), and high (66-90) based on the mean scores. The Moosazadeh and Alizadeh Social Capital Questionnaire includes 20 questions across three dimensions: social network, social participation, and social trust. Social capital was categorized as low (20-48), moderate (49-75), and high (76-100). Ahorsu et al.'s Fear of COVID-19 Questionnaire includes 10 questions, with fear levels categorized as low (10-20), moderate (21-30), and high (31-40). The data were normalized and reported on a 0-100 scale.
For data analysis, central and dispersion indices such as frequency, percentage, table, mean, and standard deviation were used. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (K-S) was used to assess the normality of the variables. Pearson correlation was employed to examine the relationship between dependent and independent variables and their sub-dimensions, and multiple linear regression modeling was used to determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables. SPSS 22 software was utilized for data analysis.
Results
The findings indicated that the age group of 61 to 70 had the highest number of participants, with 54.4% being men. The majority of participants had a high school diploma (37.7%). Bivariate analysis showed a significant negative correlation between social capital (r = -0.479) and its dimensions (social networks (r = -0.453), social trust (r = -0.454), and social participation (r = -0.250)), and cultural capital (r = -0.518) and its dimensions (embodied (r = -0.361), objectified (r = -0.607), and institutionalized (r = -0.734)) with the level of fear of COVID-19 among retirees (P<0.001). Regression modeling also demonstrated that both social capital and cultural capital were significantly related to the level of fear of COVID-19, explaining approximately 36% and 31% of the variance, respectively. An increase of one unit in the social capital score resulted in a 0.470-unit decrease in the fear of COVID-19 (P<0.001). Similarly, an increase of one unit in the cultural capital score led to a 0.970-unit decrease in the fear of COVID-19 (P<0.001).
Conclusion
The study indicates a significant negative relationship between social and cultural capital and fear of COVID-19 among TUOMS retirees. Therefore, it is essential to take necessary measures to enhance both social capital and cultural capital to reduce fear of illness, which is a factor in various physical and mental diseases during pandemics like COVID-19. Additionally, exploring the relationship between social and cultural capital, the rate and outcome of recovery, and the mediating role of fear of illness can provide practical strategies to strengthen these capitals and measure their tangible outcomes.