Scoping review identifies gaps in measuring adults’ online social capital

A PRISMA-ScR-compliant scoping review of research on measuring online social capital among adults identified 86 eligible studies, with 27 analyzed in detail. The review found that most scales were adaptations of measures designed to assess social capital as a whole. It also identified a shortage of instruments intended specifically for older adults and reported that, although a few tools targeted the general population, none had been validated in a health context.

The review focused on theory-based, comprehensive questionnaire methods for assessing online social capital in adult populations. Its stated aims were to provide an overview of these measurement tools and compare the aspects they assess and their psychometric properties. The authors noted that growing interest in the relationship between social capital and older people’s health coincides with the development of communication and information technologies that can make some offline measurement approaches less effective.

To identify relevant research, the authors searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, ProQuest and CINAHL for studies published between January 2000 and September 2024. Eligibility covered studies that developed or validated questionnaire methods for assessing online social capital in adult populations. Studies could originate in any country and focus either on health or on the general population. The researchers then separated eligible work that referenced an explicit theory of social capital and treated that group as the material analyzed in the scoping review. The review protocol was registered on the Open Science Framework on August 25, 2023.

The initial search returned 13,072 records. Removing duplicates left 8,042 unique records for title-and-abstract screening, after which 425 articles underwent full-text assessment. Ultimately, 86 studies met the inclusion criteria, while 27 were analyzed in the scoping review. This distinction is central to interpreting the results: the review’s evidence base consisted of 86 included studies, not 86 separate measurement tools, and the 27 analyzed studies were not necessarily 27 distinct tools or approaches. The findings instead showed that most of the scales discussed were adaptations of instruments for measuring social capital generally. A few tools were directed toward the general adult population, but none had been validated in the health context. The review also found a lack of scales specifically designed for older populations.

These gaps led the authors to conclude that a measurement tool for assessing online social capital is needed for population-based public-health and epidemiological studies, particularly one intended for older adults. The review maps existing measurement approaches rather than demonstrating that any questionnaire improves health, predicts a health outcome or has a causal relationship with health. Its population-level scope was adults in studies focused on health or the general population, and its search was limited to literature published from January 2000 through September 2024. By organizing theory-based comprehensive questionnaire methods and comparing the aspects they assess and their reported psychometric properties, the scoping review provides a structured account of what is available and identifies where further instrument development is needed.

Subject of Research: Questionnaire tools for measuring online social capital in adult health research

Article Title: Measurement tools of online social capital among adult population in health studies: a scoping review

Article References: Sekuła, P., Jagło, N., Gajdzica, M., Brzyska, M., Piłat-Kobla, A., Storman, D., Jemioło, P., Ząber, J., Salamon, K., Koperny, M., Bała, M. M., & Zawisza, K. (2026). Measurement tools of online social capital among adult population in health studies: a scoping review. BMC Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-29701-2

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12889-026-29701-2

Keywords: online social capital, scoping review, adult health, older adults, public health, questionnaire validation, psychometrics, measurement tools, health research, Measurement, tools, online