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. 2025 Feb 28;20(2):e0318144.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318144. eCollection 2025.

Relationships between community public service facilities and social capital: An exploratory study of Harbin, China

Yichen Luo  1 , Guangtian Zou  1 , Qianyu Liu  1
Affiliations

Relationships between community public service facilities and social capital: An exploratory study of Harbin, China

Yichen Luo et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Social capital is closely intertwined with neighborhood environments and facility provisions. It is a vital resource for supporting residents' happiness and satisfaction. In the context of urban stock development and the concentrated construction of community public service facilities, it remains unclear whether the spontaneous construction of facilities follows a colocation model and how facility-related construction affects residents' quality of life. In this study, we used a questionnaire survey to analyze social capital, summarizing it into aspects such as community cohesion, social support, community trust, and sense of belonging. Then, we acquired the points of interest for facilities in Harbin, China, computed the Global Colocation Quotient (GCLQ) and Local Colocation Quotient (LCLQ), the proportion of spatial units occupied by facilities, and the Shannon diversity index, and analyzed the patterns. Aged care services, childcare centers, and community cultural services were found to have the strongest mutual attractions. Finally, an ordinary least squares model was constructed. The proportion of spatial units occupied by community public service facilities was closely related to social capital growth. In the relationship between the colocation model and social capital, LCLQ-healthcare showed a negative correlation, LCLQ-aged care and LCLQ-childcare showed a positive correlation, and LCLQ-cultural and sports showed a positive correlation with a sense of community belonging. The geographically weighted regression model indicated significant spatial heterogeneity in how facility-related construction affects social capital. This study offers a foundation and reference for the sustainable planning and development of integrated community public service facilities.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. A research roadmap of the impact path of community public service facilities on social capital.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Summary of the scope of the study and research area (a) research area and sampling points (b) summary of gender, age, community type, and residency.
Data source: ArcGIS Online basemap [57].
Fig 3
Fig 3. Facilities POI and diversity (a) diversity of facilities (b) extent of community life circle at sampling sites (c) distribution of POI.
Data source: ArcGIS Online basemap [57].
Fig 4
Fig 4. Hot spots and cold spots in terms of percentage of the number of facilities: (a) convenient service; (b) cultural and sports; (c) administrative; (d) healthcare; (e) aged care; (f) childcare.
Data source: ArcGIS Online basemap [57].
Fig 5
Fig 5. GCLQ of community public service facilities.
Fig 6
Fig 6. LCLQ of community public service facilities.
Data source: ArcGIS Online basemap [57].
Fig 7
Fig 7. Overview of the OLS model.
Fig 8
Fig 8. The GWR coefficients of GCLQ factors for community public service facilities.
Data source: ArcGIS Online basemap [57].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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