Social capital, partnership transitions and depressive symptoms in later life: evidence from Europe

European societies have undergone profound changes in partnership and family formation, with declining marriage rates and increasingly diverse later-life trajectories, including widowhood, divorce, separation, and prolonged singlehood. These changes are particularly relevant in ageing populations, where partnership status may shape access to social resources that influence mental health. This study examines how different dimensions of social capital are associated with depressive symptoms among older adults in Europe, and whether these associations vary by partnership status and partnership trajectories. Using longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and multilevel logistic regression models, we distinguish between bonding social capital, measured through family networks and household size, and bridging social capital, measured through participation in socially interactive activities. We also account for satisfaction with social networks and activities. Results reveal substantial heterogeneity. Family-based networks are associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms mainly among partnered individuals, whereas bridging social capital appears especially relevant among individuals without a partner and those transitioning from partnership to no partnership. Satisfaction with social activities and networks shows the most consistent protective association. Overall, the findings suggest that the mental-health relevance of social capital depends on partnership context and later-life trajectories.