A social capital perspective on the complex determinants of satisfaction among residents in eldercare institutions: an empirical analysis from northern Xinjiang

Abstract

Amid rapid aging, quality of life in eldercare institutions is a pressing concern. Although social capital is a key correlate of satisfaction, evidence on its bridging and bonding dimensions remains limited. This study examined the associations between these two types of social capital and satisfaction to inform efforts to improve institutional eldercare services. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in northern Xinjiang, China, between August 2024 and August 2025. Data concerning satisfaction with institutional eldercare services, sociodemographic characteristics, and participants’ social capital were collected. Hierarchical linear regression, quantile regression, and path analysis were applied to systematically investigate the associations between social capital and institutional care satisfaction, covering overall correlational patterns, quantile-specific distributions, and direct as well as indirect associative pathways. In total, 437 participants were enrolled, with a mean age of 83.6 years. The average satisfaction score was 3.790 ± 0.976. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that sense of belonging ( β = 0.223) and family affection ( β = 0.384) were positively associated with satisfaction with institutional eldercare services. Quantile regression further revealed that these associations were concentrated at the median satisfaction level ( P 50 ). At P 50 , family affection ( β = 1.292, p = 0.021), sense of belonging ( β = 0.466, p = 0.019), and number of offspring ( β = 0.353, p = 0.011) presented positive associations, whereas family support ( β =-1.214, p = 0.036) showed a negative association. Neighborhood atmosphere ( β = 0.296, p = 0.004) and monthly income ( β =-0.199, p = 0.029) were significantly associated with satisfaction only at the P 90 quantile. Path analysis indicated that family affection had the largest total associative coefficient (0.585), followed by number of offspring (0.433), sense of belonging (0.326), and neighborhood atmosphere (0.255). In contrast, family support (-0.623) and monthly income (-0.243) exhibited negative total associative coefficients. Associations between social capital and satisfaction varied by satisfaction level and support type. Sense of belonging and family affection were positively associated at the median level; neighborhood atmosphere was positively associated only among high-satisfaction residents; and family support was negatively associated among middle-satisfaction residents. Strengthening family affection and sense of belonging may improve care evaluations and help reorient family support from substitutive care toward emotional companionship, offering an entry point for improving institutional eldercare delivery.