The Role of Social Capital in Social Happiness: A Case Study of Youth Aged 18-40 in Kabul

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.