Adolescents' mental health, educational achievement and social capital

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This study will look at the relationships between adolescents‘ mental health, their achievement at school and the social capital that they possess. John Field (2003) summed up the theory of social capital in two words: relationships matter. These relationships may be in the form of associations between immediate family members, extended family, friends, or members of a wider community. This research will aim to establish: What personal characteristics does a person with high social capital generally have? Is it important to have a high level of social capital to maintain good mental health and to exhibit high achievement at school? How are social capital, mental health and educational attainment related to each other? What types of social capital are most important in promoting positive outcomes for individuals. For example, do relationships within the family trump those within the wider community in enabling children to exhibit good psychological health? The study will initially use survey data to examine the questions outlined above. Following this, interviews will be carried out with children, their families and members of the wider community.