NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGEING Toronto Social Capital Study FEBRUARY - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Michael Nicin, MA, MPP Executive Director National Institute on Ageing

FEBRUARY 2019

NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGEING Toronto Social Capital Study

BEFORE WE GET STARTED…POLL QUESTION

• 1. How fami

mili liar ar are you with ith the concep ept of soci cial al capital al? Very y Somewhat mewhat Not at all

1

• 2. Whic

ich h age e group

• up would

uld you gues uess s has s the highest ighest soci cial al capital al in Toron

• nto?

to? 18 18-24 24 25 25-29 29 30 30-39 39 40 40-54 54 55 55-64 64 65+ 65+

BEFORE WE GET STARTED…POLL QUESTION

2

• The

e repo port, rt, commi

• mmiss

ssio ioned ned by the Toro ronto to Found undatio ation, n, and d cond nducted ucted by the Enviro ironi nics cs Institute, stitute, pres esents ents the e resul sults ts of a major

• r resear

search ch stud udy y about

• ut soci

cial al capit ital al in the city y of Toro

• ronto

nto.

• Social

cial capital pital is the term rm used ed to descr scribe ibe the vibran rancy cy of social

• cial networ

tworks ks and d the e extent tent to which ch there ere is trus ust t and d recipr ciproci

• city

ty within thin a comm mmun unity ity and d among mong indivi dividua uals ls.

• It is the essential “lubricant” that makes it possible for societies to

functio nction, n, and d for r people eople to get t along

• ng peacef

acefull ully even n when en they y have e little ttle in commo

• mmon.

n.

WHA HAT T IS S SO SOCI CIAL AL CA CAPITAL? ITAL?

3

• The

e conce ncept pt of social

• cial capital

pital gain ined ed wides espr pread ead attentio ention n in the past st few decade cades s thro roug ugh h the work

• rk of noted

ted Ameri erican can poli liti tical cal scie ientis ntist t Ro Robert ert Putna nam and d his s semina minal work rk, Bo Bowli ling g Alone.

• ne.
• There

ere is ample ple empiri pirical cal eviden idence ce showin

• wing

g that t high igh levels vels of such ch reciprocity, trust and connection are not simply “feel good” notions, but key y ingr gredie edients nts to makin king g comm mmun unities ities product roductive, ive, healthy lthy and safe. e.

WHA HAT T IS S SO SOCI CIAL AL CA CAPITAL? ITAL?

4

• The

e survey urvey sampl mpling ing of 3,200 200 Toro

• ronto

ntoni nian ans s was desig signed ned to includ clude e a repres presentati entative e sampl mple e of resid sidents ents (18 8 years rs of age e and d older) der).

• Additi

dition

• nal

al steps eps were re taken ken to increase crease the repr presen esentatio tation n of indi dividu vidual als s from

• m

severa veral l specific pecific group roups s identif entified ied as impo portant tant for r this is stud udy y (specifica pecificall lly, , resid sidents ents 65 years rs and d older, der, and d indivi dividu dual als s who

• self

lf-id identif entify y as Bl Black, ck, Chin inese ese or South

• uth Asia

ian, n, the e three ree large rgest st ethni nic c groups roups in the e city) y). .

AB ABOUT T TH THE ST STUDY DY

5

AB ABOUT T TH THE ST STUDY DY

• The

e NIA, A, with h suppor pport t from

• m the

e LIFE E Institu stitute te at Ry Ryerso rson n Univer iversity, sity, partne rtnered ed on the proje

• ject

ct with th the e specif ecific ic goal al of better ter unde ders rstan tandi ding ng the soci cial al stan andi ding ng of senio niors rs in Toro

• ronto

nto.

• The

e Age e Frien iendly dly City ty movem vement ent has s been n growin rowing g in recen ent t years rs, and d new atten enti tion

• n to issue

ssues of soci cial al isola solatio tion n led d to our r need ed to better ter under derstan tand the e conne nnective ctive soci cial al tissu ssue e that t under derli lies es the built lt enviro ironm nmen ent t and d how w people

• ple

exper perien ience ce city y life fe more

• re broadly
• adly.

.

6

AB ABOUT T TH THE ST STUDY DY

Crea eati ting ng an Index dex to track ack and d comp mpar are e Socia ial Capital pital across ross the e measu asures res.

• The

e pres esentatio entation n of result sults s is organ ganized ized aroun

• und

d four ur prim imary ary dimen imensio ions ns of soci cial al capital pital as inform formed ed by the resear search ch liter erature ature: : social

• cial trus

ust, t, social cial netwo works ks, civic ic conn nnectio ection, n, and d neig ighb hbou

• urh

rhood d supp ppor

• rt.

t.

• For each dimension an “index score” was created to provide a concise measure

for r making aking comp

• mpari

ariso sons ns acros ross s popu pula latio tion n subg bgro roup ups s (and d over er time me when en future ture sur urvey veys s are e cond nducted ucted). ).

• Each index is scored from “0” (lowest possible score) to “10” (highest possible

scor

• re).

e).

7

DIMENSIONS OF SOCIAL CAPITAL

1. 1. Social cial Trust: rust: the e sens nse e of trus ust t Toron

• ronton

tonia ians ns have e in one e anothe

• ther

r and d city ty institu stitutio tions ns. 2. 2. Socia cial l Netwo twork rks: s: the e stren rengt gth of resid siden ents ts' ' infor formal al and d form rmal al rela latio tions nshi hips. s. 3. 3. Civic vic Connectio

• nnection:

n: the e extent tent to which ch peop

• ple

le are e civical ically engag gaged. d. 4. 4. Neigh ighbour bourho hood d Suppor pport: t: how w citizen tizens see e thei eir r neighbo ighbour urhood

• ds

s as suppor pporting ting the type e of life e and enviro ironm nmen ent t they y want t for r themse emselves. lves.

8

KEY FINDINGS

• 1. Social Trust
• Trus

ust t in other her peop

• ple

le and in instituti stitution

• ns

s is one e of the e central ntral dimen imensio ions ns of soci cial al capital pital, defin ined ed as the extent tent to which ich indi divid vidua uals s trust ust (or r distru strust) st)

• ther

hers s with h whom

• m they

y may y have e relatio ations nshi hips ps and/or d/or social

• cial interacti

teraction

• ns.

s.

• For

r this is reaso ason, n, trus ust t is amon

• ng

g the most

• st widely

dely stud udied ied and d valid idated ated aspect pects s of soci cial al capital. pital.

9

KEY FINDINGS Social Trust

• Overal

rall, social cial trust ust in Toro

• ronto

nto is reaso asona nably bly stro rong ng and d compar mparab able le to that t of Cana nadia ians ns in genera neral. l.

• Acros

ross s the city, ty, genera neral l trust ust is highes ighest t amon

• ng

g older der Toro

• ronto

nto resid sidents ents, peaking aking at ages es 55 and d lowe west t for r the e 25-29 29 age e group roup.

• It is simila

milarly ly high gher er for r peop

• ple

le who

• identif

entify y as white ite and d who

• have

e househ

• usehol
• ld

d incom comes es over er $100 100,00 ,000/year 0/year. .

• Social

cial trus ust t appears pears to increas crease e with th age, e, wealth, lth, and d majori

• rity

ty status. atus.

• More

re work rk is being ng done

• ne to unders

nderstand tand the differ ferences ences betwee ween n older der peop

• ple

le by incom come e and d race. e.

10

KEY FINDINGS Social Trust

11

• The

e most

• st comm

mmonly nly-us used ed questi estion

• n to measu

asure re genera neral l trust ust asks ks people eople which ich of two

• opp

pposi sing ng statemen atements ts is close

• sest

st to their ir own n view: w:

• “overall, most people can be trusted” or “you cannot be too careful in

dealing with people”

• A modes
• dest

t majori jority (55%) 5%) of Toro ronto to resid sidents ents agree ree with th the e positive

• sitive

statement “overa verall ll, , most

• st peopl
• ple

e can be trusted usted”, compared with four in ten (40%) who maintain instead that “you

• u canno

nnot t be too

• o carefu

eful l in deal aling ing with th peop

• ple

le” (the remaining 6% did not offer a response to this question).

KEY FINDINGS Social Trust

12

KEY FINDINGS Social Trust

13

KEY FINDINGS

• 2. Social Networks
• Anothe
• ther

r essentia ssential l dimens mensio ion n of social cial capital ital is the presen esence ce and d qual ality ity of pers rson

• nal

al conne nnectio ctions ns that t indivi ndividu dual als s have e with th other hers s throug rough h their eir social

• cial

netwo works, ks, includi cluding ng family mily and d frien iends. s.

• Social ties play various roles in peoples’ lives, fulfilling practical functions

(helpin elping g out, t, making king connectio

• nnections

ns to valuable luable reso sources urces) ) and d providi roviding ng emotio motiona nal l support. upport.

• The

e survey urvey exami amine ned d social

• cial netwo

twork rks, s, in terms rms of the e extent tent to which ch Toron

• ronto

tonia nians ns have e famil ily members mbers and d frien iends s they y can n count unt on, , and d the e type e and d frequen equency cy contact. ntact.

14

KEY FINDINGS Social Networks

15

KEY FINDINGS Social Networks

16

KEY FINDINGS Social Networks

• As with

th social cial trust, ust, social

• cial networ

tworks ks capital pital is linked nked to age, e, incom come e and d race/c e/cultur lture, e, but to a lesser sser degr gree. ee.

• Once

ce agai ain, n, resid siden ents ts 55 and d olde lder r have e the highes ghest t socia

• cial

l netwo twork rk scor

• res

es (and d this is holds lds for r those

• se livin

ing g alone

• ne and/or

d/or in high gh-ri rise se build lding ings), s), whil ile e those hose 25 to 29 have e the lowes west t score core among

• ng age

e coho horts rts.

• Socia

cial l netwo twork rk capital pital also so increa creases ses more

• re modestly
• destly by incom

come e (from rom 5.3 among

• ng

thos

• se

e earni rning ng less ss than an $30K 30K, , to 6.2 among

• ng those

hose earnin ning g $100 00K K or more),

• re), with

h the impact pact of income come most

• st eviden

ident t among

• ng resi

siden dents ts aged ed 25 to 29. .

17

KEY FINDINGS Social Networks

18

KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS Social Networks

• Nine

ne in ten n (91%) 1%) Toro

• ronto

ntonia nians s repo port t having ing at least ast one e famil ily y member mber or r rela lative tive who

• they

y feel l close

• se to (e.g.

g., , feel l at ease e with, h, can n talk lk to about

• ut what

at is on their eir mind, ind, or can call ll for r help). lp).

• Six

x percen rcent say they y have e no clos

• se

e rela latives tives that t fit t this is descrip scriptio tion. n.

• Whil

ile e lonel nelines ness s and d isolatio

• lation are chall

llen enges ges for r many ny senio niors rs, across ross the e city y as a whol

• le,

e, reside sidents nts aged ed 65 and d over er livin ing g alone

• ne and/or

d/or in highr ghrise ise build lding ings s are among

• ng the

e most

• st satis

isfi fied ed with th the frequ equen ency cy of conta ntact ct with th famil mily y and d frien iends ds

• This

is group roup is more

• re like

kely ly than an other hers s to say they ey are very y satis tisfi fied ed with h the frequ equen ency cy of conta ntact, ct, with th very y few (3% among

• ng all

l resid siden ents ts aged ed 65 plus) us) expre press ssing ing dissati issatisfa factio ction. n.

19

KEY FINDINGS

• 3. Civic Connection
• The

e third ird prim imary ary dimen imensio ion n of social cial capital ital encompa compass sses es the concept ncept of comm mmun unity, ity, or coll llective, ective, social cial vital ality ity – the e extent tent to which ch peop

• ple

le engag gage e with th other hers s in grou roups ps and d organiza rganizatio tions ns, , above ve and beyond

• nd their

eir famil ily y and frien iends dshi hip p netwo twork rks. s.

• This

is was s the focus cus of the work rk of noted ted Ameri erican can socio ciolo logist ist Ro Robert ert Putna tnam, m, as high ghli ligh ghted ted in his s semin eminal al work rk Bo Bowli ling g Alone

• ne.

20

KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS Civic Connection

• City

ty-wi wide, e, two-third thirds (65%) 5%) of Toron

• ronto

tonia nians ns repo ported rted to be a member mber or particip rticipan ant t in at least ast one e group roup, asso sociatio ciation n or organiza rganizatio tion n in the past st 12 months

• nths.
• The

e most

• st comm

mmon n types pes inclu lude de a cultur ltural al, , educa ucatio tion, or hobby bby grou

• up

p (28%) %), , a unio ion n or profes

• fessio

iona nal l asso sociatio ciation (27%) 7%), a sport ports or recreatio creational al organiza rganizatio tion n (26%) 6%) or a reli ligio gious-affiliat affiliated ed gro roup up (20%). 0%).

• Much

ch less ss comm mmon n are e group roups s that t cater er to a specif ecific ic part rt of the popul

• pulati

ation

• n,

such ch as seni nior

• rs

s (10%). %).

21

KEY FINDINGS Civic Connection

22

KEY FINDINGS Civic Connection

• Seven

en in ten Toro

• ronto

ntonia nians s say they ey are very y (30%) 0%) or somewha

• mewhat

t (41%) 1%) interes terested ted in poli liti tics cs gen enera erall lly, y, compare

• mpared with

th one e in four ur who ho is not t very y (16%) 6%) or not t at all l (10%) 0%) interes terested. ted.

• Com
• mpari

pariso sons ns with th the e 2013 13 GSS indicates dicates that t Toro ronto ntoni nian ans s expres pressed ed interes terest t in poli litics tics gene nera rall lly y has s stren rengt gthen ened ed since nce five e years rs ago

• (when

en 24% % said id they y were e very ry interes terested ted in poli litics tics). ).

• Acros

ross s the city, ty, stron rong g inter erest est in poli liti tics cs is most

• st commo
• mmon

n among

• ng resi

siden dents ts 65 years rs and d over er (42%) %), , compare

• mpared

d to (20%) %) for r the 25-29 29 age e grou roup. p.

23

KEY FINDINGS Civic Connection

24

KEY FINDINGS Civic Connection

25

KEY FINDINGS Civic Connection

• Civic

vic conne nnectio ction n scores

• res do
• not

t vary y as noticeabl ticeably y acros ross s age grou

• ups

ps, but are lowes west t amon

• ng

g Toro ronto ntonia ians ns 30 to 54 (3.9) 9) and highes ghest t among mong thos

• se

e 55 and d

• lder

lder (4.5) .5). .

• Notabl

tably, y, civic ic conn nnectio ection n is only ly marg rgina inally ly lower wer among

• ng firs

rst t genera nerati tion

• n

Cana nadia ians ns (4.0) 0) comp

• mpare

ared d with th those hose in the e seco cond nd (4.3) 3) and d third rd plus us (4.4) 4) gener eneratio ations ns, indicatin dicating g that t immig mmigran rants ts are e no less ss likel kely than n well- estab tabli lish shed ed citizens izens to becom come e civical ically engag gaged ed in their eir comm mmuni unity. ty.

26

KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS

• 4. Neighbourhood Support
• In additio

dition n to the core re soci cial al capital pital dimen imensio ions ns of social cial trust ust (which ich can be described as “cognitive”) and social networks and civic connection (which are “behavioural”), there is a fourth that encompasses how residents view the characte aracteris ristics tics of their eir neig ighbou hbourho rhood d as supp pporting ting the e type pe of envir ironm nment ent and d life fe they ey desir sire e (this his dimens mensio ion n can be class assif ified ied as “ecological”).

• The

e survey urvey addres dressed sed this is aspect pect of social

• cial capital

pital by askin king g Toro ront nton

• nia

ians ns the extent tent to which ich they y see e their ir neigh ighbour bourho hood

• d as

havin ing g suppor pportive tive char aract cteri eristics tics, as well ll as an additi ditiona nal l questio estion about ut perceived rceived soci cial al agency ency (none

• ne of these

ese ques estio tions ns have e been n covered vered in previo evious us resear search ch in Toron

• ronto,

to, so

• no benchm

chmark ark data a are avail ilabl able). e).

27

KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS Neighbourhood Support

• Most

st Toron

• ronto

to resid sidents ents share are the belie ief that t their ir neigh ighbour bourho hood

• d is relativel

atively y safe e from

• m crime

ime and violence.

• lence.
• Three

ree-qua uart rters ers (75%) 5%) agree ree with th this is statem temen ent t about

• ut their

eir neig ighbou hbourho rhood d provi rovidin ding g safe e places ces for r child ldren ren to play ay; ; onl nly y one e in ten n (9%) %) disag sagree rees.

• Acros

ross s the city, ty, a positive

• sitive pers

rspect pective e about ut share ared values ues in the e neigh ighbour bourho hood

• d

is most

• st prom
• mine

inent t amon

• ng

g resid sidents ents in owned ned, detach ached ed homes mes, , thos

• se

e who

• know
• w

thei eir r neig ighb hbou

• urs

rs, reside sidents nts 55 years rs and d olde lder r (but much ch less ss so

• for

r seni nior

• rs

s livin ing g alone

• ne or

r in high gh-rise ise build lding ings). .

28

KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS Neighbourhood Support

29

KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS KEY FINDINGS Neighbourhood Support

• Almo

most st two-th third irds s (64%) %) of Toro ronto to reside sidents nts agree ree that at the statem temen ent t “People around here are willing to help their neighbours” descri scribes es thei eir r neigh ighbour bourho hood, d, comp mpare ared with th one e in ten (9%) %) who

• disagr

sagrees ees.

• Agreem

reement ent is most

• st wides

despre pread ad among mong Toron

• ronto

tonia nians ns who

• live

e in detached tached homes,

• mes, own

wn thei eir r homes

• mes, have

e been n in their ir neigh ighbour bourho hood

• d for

r at least ast 10 years rs, and d know now most

• st or

r many ny of their eir neighbou ighbours rs.

30

• Even

n more

• re signi

gnifi fican cant t is age, , with th agree reemen ent t expres pressed sed by 77 percen rcent t of resid sidents ents aged ed 55 and d older der, comp mpare ared with th just t 44 perce cent nt of thos

• se

e aged ed 25 to 29. .

• Acros

ross s the city, ty, a positive

• sitive pers

rspecti pective e about ut shar ared ed value ues in the e neigh ighbour bourho hood d is most

• st promin

rominent ent among

• ng the

e same me grou

• ups

ps as identif entified ed above: ve: resid sidents ents in owned ned, , deta tach ched ed homes,

• mes, thos
• se

e who

• know

now their eir neigh ighbour bours, s, resid sidents ents 55 years ars and

KEY FINDINGS Neighbourhood Support

31

NEXT XT ST STEPS PS

This is stud udy will l make ke an impo port rtan ant t contr ntrib ibutio ution n to the future ture of Toron

• ronto

to in terms rms

• f:
• Providi
• viding

ng all secto tors s with th an empir pirical ical basis sis for r review viewing ing and d buil ildin ding g policies, initiatives and investments that strengthen the city’s social capital reso sour urces ces in ways ys that t enha hance nce the e broader

• ader comm

mmun unity ity

• Identif

entifyi ying g new areas eas of oppo portu rtunity nity for r addres dressing ing chal allen lenge ges and d suppo pportin rting g positive

• sitive chang

nge e

32

NEXT XT ST STEPS PS

• Ra

Raisin sing g awarene reness s of the impo portance rtance and d benefi efits ts of social

• cial trus

ust, t, recip ipro rocity city and d commu

• mmuni

nity ty invol volveme vement, t, so these ese are given en a grea eater ter prio iori rity ty

• Establ

ablis ishin hing g a benchm chmark ark agai ains nst t which ich progre

• gress

s can be meas asured ured over er time. me. Partne tners rs and d other her organiza rganizatio tions ns can build ld upon pon this is study udy throug rough h foll llow-up up surve rveys ys that t may focus cus on specif ecific ic target rget popula

• pulatio

tions s and/or /or areas as of the e city. y.

• This

is resear search ch may y also so serve rve as the basis is for r simil imilar ar studie udies s in other ther cities ties acros ross s Ontari ario

• and Cana

nada. da.

33

NEXT XT ST STEPS PS

• For

r the NIA, , look

• oking

ng at cities ties throu rough gh the lens ns of social

• cial capital

pital provid rovides es yet another

• ther varia

iabl ble e to consi nsider der in the context ntext of age e frien endl dly citie ies and d the e growin rowing g conce ncern rn of social cial isolati

• lation
• n.
• As we cont

ntinu inue e work rk on city ty issu sues, es, we expect pect to more re fully ly accou

• unt

nt for r the soci cial al life e of seni niors rs.

34