Copyright (c) 2025 Gulabshah Amani

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The Role of Social Capital in Social Happiness: A Case Study of Youth Aged 18-40 in Kabul
Corresponding Author(s) : Gulabshah Amani
Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025): July
Abstract
Social capital and social happiness are both considered fundamental assets of any society, as these two crucial assets are recognized as drivers of growth and development. Therefore, the primary aim of the present study is to sociologically examine the role of social capital in social happiness among young people aged 18 to 40 in Kabul. This research employs a quantitative method, adopts a descriptive-explanatory approach, and is conducted through a survey. The sample size of the study was determined to be 384 individuals based on the Cochran formula and Morgan table, with participants selected through random and convenience sampling. Data were collected using the standard Oxford University questionnaire for social happiness and the Putnam (1999) questionnaire for social capital, measured on a Likert scale. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 26. The findings indicated that both social happiness and social capital among respondents were below average. Additionally, education, gender, and marital status had a significant relationship with respondents' social happiness, while age and occupation showed no significant difference. Moreover, respondents' social capital, both overall and in its dimensions, had a direct and significant relationship with their social happiness. Regression test results also revealed that social capital alone explained approximately 24% of the variance in social happiness among these young people. The overall conclusion of the study is that social capital significantly determines the social happiness of young people, and therefore, scientific and practical policies need to be implemented to enhance social capital and increase social happiness among the country's youth.
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- Arampatzi, E., Burger, M. J., & Novik, N. (2018). Social network sites, individual social capital, and happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19 (1), 99–122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9808-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9808-z
- Argyle, M. (2004). Psychology of happiness (F. Bahrami et al, Trans.). Isfahan: University Jihad-Isfahan.
- Bernburg, J. G., Thorlindsson, T., & Sigfusdottir, I. D. (2009). Relative deprivation and adolescent outcomes in Iceland: A multilevel test. Social Forces, 87 (3), 1223-1250. https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.0.0177 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.0.0177
- Bjørnskov, C. (2008). Social capital and happiness in the United States. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 3 (1), 43-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-008-9046-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-008-9046-6
- Bourdieu, P. (2005). The social structures of the economy. Polity.
- Carr, N. (2008). Is Google making us stupid?, Teachers College Record, 110 (14), 89-94. https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810811001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810811001427
- CHalbi, M., & Mosavi, S. (2008). A Sociological Analysis of Happiness, at Micro-and Macro-levels. Iranian Journal of Sociology, 9(1,2), 34-57. 20.1001.1.17351901.1387.9.1.2.7
- Eysenck, M. (1990). Always be happy (B. Chelonger, Trans.). New Gen.
- Firozi, S. M., Zare Shahabadi, A., & Emamalizadeh, H. (2022). Analyzing the contexts and foundations of the erosion of social hope in Afghanistan. Journal of Political Sociology of Islamic World, 10 (21), 349-374. https://doi.org/10.22070/iws.2023.17407.2282
- Inglehart, R. (1995). Changing values, economic development, and political change. International Social Science Journal, 47 (145).
- Johnson, W., & Krueger, R. (2006). How money buys happiness: Genetic and environmental influences on income and happiness. Psychological Science, 17 (1), 51-57. https://DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.90.4.680 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.90.4.680
- Leung, A., Kier, C., Fung, T., Fung, L., & Sproule, R. (2013). Searching for happiness: The importance of social capital. In A. Delle Fave (Ed.), The exploration of happiness, Springer (pp. 247-259).. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5702-8_13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5702-8_13
- Leung, A., Kier, C., & Sproule, R. A. (2023). Happiness and social capital. In Encyclopedia of quality of life and well-being research (pp. 1-6). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17299-1_3893 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17299-1_3893
- Majeed, M. T., & Samreen, I. (2021). Social capital as a source of happiness: Evidence from a cross-country analysis. International Journal of Social Economics, 48 (1), 159-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-10-2019-0602 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-10-2019-0602
- Mardani, A. (2014). A study of factors affecting the social health of Yazd University students (Master's thesis). Yazd University.
- Mehdizadeh, S., Ganji, M., & Zara Ghias Abadi, F. (2015). Sociological study on youth happiness status with emphasis on the role of social capital. Strategic Studies on Youth and Sports, 13 (26), 85-108.
- Mirshah Jafari, E., Abedi, M. R., & Drikvandi, H. (2002). Happiness and its affecting factors. Advances in Cognitive Sciences, 4 (3), 50-58. http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-575-fa.html
- Putnam, R. D., & Goss, K. A. (2002). Introduction. In Contemporary society. Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/0195150899.003.0001
- Ram, R. (2010). Social capital and happiness: Additional cross-country evidence. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11 (4), 409-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9148-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9148-3
- Rezadoust, K., Nabavi, S. A., & Salehi, S. N. (2015). The effect of social and psychological factors on happiness (Case study: 16-18 years old students of Ahvaz). Journal of Applied Sociology, 26 (3), 1-22. https://doi.org/20.1001.1.20085745.1394.26.3.1.9
- Ritzer, G. (1996). McUniversity in the postmodern consumer society. Quality in Higher Education, 2 (3), 185-199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1353832960020302
- Rodríguez-Pose, A., & von Berlepsch, V. (2014). Social capital and individual happiness in Europe. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15 (2), 357-386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9426 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9426-y
- Sanatkhah, A., & Shirvanipour, A. (2015). Sociology of happiness. Tehran: Sociologists.
- Tsuruta, K., Shiomitsu, T., Hombu, A., & Fujii, Y. (2019). Relationship between social capital and happiness in a Japanese community: A cross-sectional study. Nursing & Health Sciences, 21 (2), 245-252. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12589 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12589
- Veenhoven, R. (1997). Advances in understanding happiness. Reve Quebecoise de Psychologie, 18, 29-74.
- Zare Shahabadi, A., Firozi, S. M., & Mohammad Torkashvand Moradabadi, M. (2023). Mapping social happiness in Kabul: A case study of educated people between 15 and 40 years old. Afghanistan, 6 (2), 208-221. https://doi.org/10.3366/afg.2023.0114 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3366/afg.2023.0114
References
Arampatzi, E., Burger, M. J., & Novik, N. (2018). Social network sites, individual social capital, and happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19 (1), 99–122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9808-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-016-9808-z
Argyle, M. (2004). Psychology of happiness (F. Bahrami et al, Trans.). Isfahan: University Jihad-Isfahan.
Bernburg, J. G., Thorlindsson, T., & Sigfusdottir, I. D. (2009). Relative deprivation and adolescent outcomes in Iceland: A multilevel test. Social Forces, 87 (3), 1223-1250. https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.0.0177 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/sof.0.0177
Bjørnskov, C. (2008). Social capital and happiness in the United States. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 3 (1), 43-62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-008-9046-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-008-9046-6
Bourdieu, P. (2005). The social structures of the economy. Polity.
Carr, N. (2008). Is Google making us stupid?, Teachers College Record, 110 (14), 89-94. https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810811001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810811001427
CHalbi, M., & Mosavi, S. (2008). A Sociological Analysis of Happiness, at Micro-and Macro-levels. Iranian Journal of Sociology, 9(1,2), 34-57. 20.1001.1.17351901.1387.9.1.2.7
Eysenck, M. (1990). Always be happy (B. Chelonger, Trans.). New Gen.
Firozi, S. M., Zare Shahabadi, A., & Emamalizadeh, H. (2022). Analyzing the contexts and foundations of the erosion of social hope in Afghanistan. Journal of Political Sociology of Islamic World, 10 (21), 349-374. https://doi.org/10.22070/iws.2023.17407.2282
Inglehart, R. (1995). Changing values, economic development, and political change. International Social Science Journal, 47 (145).
Johnson, W., & Krueger, R. (2006). How money buys happiness: Genetic and environmental influences on income and happiness. Psychological Science, 17 (1), 51-57. https://DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.90.4.680 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.90.4.680
Leung, A., Kier, C., Fung, T., Fung, L., & Sproule, R. (2013). Searching for happiness: The importance of social capital. In A. Delle Fave (Ed.), The exploration of happiness, Springer (pp. 247-259).. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5702-8_13 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5702-8_13
Leung, A., Kier, C., & Sproule, R. A. (2023). Happiness and social capital. In Encyclopedia of quality of life and well-being research (pp. 1-6). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17299-1_3893 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17299-1_3893
Majeed, M. T., & Samreen, I. (2021). Social capital as a source of happiness: Evidence from a cross-country analysis. International Journal of Social Economics, 48 (1), 159-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-10-2019-0602 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-10-2019-0602
Mardani, A. (2014). A study of factors affecting the social health of Yazd University students (Master's thesis). Yazd University.
Mehdizadeh, S., Ganji, M., & Zara Ghias Abadi, F. (2015). Sociological study on youth happiness status with emphasis on the role of social capital. Strategic Studies on Youth and Sports, 13 (26), 85-108.
Mirshah Jafari, E., Abedi, M. R., & Drikvandi, H. (2002). Happiness and its affecting factors. Advances in Cognitive Sciences, 4 (3), 50-58. http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-575-fa.html
Putnam, R. D., & Goss, K. A. (2002). Introduction. In Contemporary society. Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/0195150899.003.0001
Ram, R. (2010). Social capital and happiness: Additional cross-country evidence. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11 (4), 409-418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9148-3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-009-9148-3
Rezadoust, K., Nabavi, S. A., & Salehi, S. N. (2015). The effect of social and psychological factors on happiness (Case study: 16-18 years old students of Ahvaz). Journal of Applied Sociology, 26 (3), 1-22. https://doi.org/20.1001.1.20085745.1394.26.3.1.9
Ritzer, G. (1996). McUniversity in the postmodern consumer society. Quality in Higher Education, 2 (3), 185-199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1353832960020302
Rodríguez-Pose, A., & von Berlepsch, V. (2014). Social capital and individual happiness in Europe. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15 (2), 357-386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9426 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9426-y
Sanatkhah, A., & Shirvanipour, A. (2015). Sociology of happiness. Tehran: Sociologists.
Tsuruta, K., Shiomitsu, T., Hombu, A., & Fujii, Y. (2019). Relationship between social capital and happiness in a Japanese community: A cross-sectional study. Nursing & Health Sciences, 21 (2), 245-252. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12589 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12589
Veenhoven, R. (1997). Advances in understanding happiness. Reve Quebecoise de Psychologie, 18, 29-74.
Zare Shahabadi, A., Firozi, S. M., & Mohammad Torkashvand Moradabadi, M. (2023). Mapping social happiness in Kabul: A case study of educated people between 15 and 40 years old. Afghanistan, 6 (2), 208-221. https://doi.org/10.3366/afg.2023.0114 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3366/afg.2023.0114