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The study explores the profile of social capital among groups of older adults with different demographic backgrounds and investigates how both individual social capital and perceived community social capital affect their quality of life in an urban Chinese community. It adopts a quantitative approach to explore social capital through a systematic random sampling and face-to-face questionnaire interview among the older adults in an urban community of Shanghai. Findings of the research convey noteworthy theoretical, practical, and policy implications as well as suggestions for further research with a central focus on the position of social capital. Based on the empirical understanding of the contribution of social capital to quality of life and the theoretical reinforcement cycle of social capital, the study supports the theory of successful aging in the literature: that the older population is dedicated to actively engage in later life. Policy planners and community practitioners should underpin the ´fortune´ of social capital, and strategically promote older adults´ engagement in community.

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Dr. Chen Honglin is currently a lecturer at the Department of Social Work, School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Her research interests include social capital, aging, social policy, and practical social work.

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