Social capital and having a regular family doctor: Evidence from longitudinal data

Abstract

Access to a regular source of health-care is problematic for some, irrespective of whether the regime is publicly or privately funded. Yet, evidence shows that access to a regular family doctor improves health outcomes. We are the first to examine the impact of social capital (e.g., tangible support, friends and family) on having a regular family doctor taking into account that social capital may be endogenously determined. Using the Canadian National Population Health longitudinal survey (1994-2010: n = 41,022) and a dynamic random effects probit model (with and without endogenous initial conditions) we find robust evidence of a statistically significant and positive causal relationship between social capital and the probability of having a regular family doctor. Since past access to a family doctor is a strong predictor of both current and future access, we show that social capital is much more important in helping individuals find a family doctor than for keeping one.

Keywords: Canada; National population health survey; Regular family doctor; Social capital; Social networks.