According to sufficiently reported outcomes , social capital interventions showed mixed effects on quality of life , well-being and self-perceived health and were generally ineffective on loneliness , mood and mortality .
Conclusions Our review highlights the lack of evidence and the diversity among trials , while supporting the potential of social capital interventions to reach comprehensive health effects in older adults
Background Observational studies show that social capital is a protective health factor .
Therefore , we aim to assess the currently unclear health impact of social capital interventions targeting older adults .
A social model for health promotion for an aging population: Initial evidence on the experience corps model
This report evaluates whether a program for older volunteers  , design ed for both benerativity and health promotion , leads to short-term improvements inmultiple behavioral risk factors and positive effects on intermediary risk factors for disability and other morbidities . The Experience Corps ® places  older volunteers  in public elementary schools in roles design ed to meet schools ’ needs and increase the social , physical , and cognitive activity of the volunteers . This article reports on a pilot r and omized trial in Baltimore , Maryl and . The 128 volunteers were 60–86 years old ; 95 % were African American . At follow-up of 4–8 months , physical activity , strength , people one could turn to for help , and cognitive activity increased significantly , and walking speed decreased significantly less , in participants compared to controls . In this pilot trial , physical , cognitive , and social activity increased , suggesting the potential for the Experience Corps to improve health for an aging population and simultaneously improve educational outcomes for children
According to sufficiently reported outcomes , social capital interventions showed mixed effects on quality of life , well-being and self-perceived health and were generally ineffective on loneliness , mood and mortality .
Conclusions Our review highlights the lack of evidence and the diversity among trials , while supporting the potential of social capital interventions to reach comprehensive health effects in older adults
Background Observational studies show that social capital is a protective health factor .
Therefore , we aim to assess the currently unclear health impact of social capital interventions targeting older adults .