Comparing Social Capital in Disaster Response Across Urban, Transitional, and Rural Communities: A Mixed-Methods Study in Flood-Impacted Zhengzhou, China

Abstract

The role of social capital (SC) in disaster response has been widely studied. However, comparative analyses of SC differences across community types in post-disaster contexts remain limited. Previous research has focused primarily on rural communities (RCs) and urban communities (UCs), while transitional communities (TCs)—increasingly prevalent amid China’s rapid urbanization—have received insufficient attention. This study compared SC in disaster response across UCs, TCs, and RCs in flood-affected Zhengzhou City, China. Employing a mixed-methods strategy, this study collected 1837 questionnaire responses in flood-affected communities, conducted analysis of variance (ANOVA), and used semistructured interviews and participant observations in three representative communities. The results identified bonding SC as the predominant form across community types, whereas bridging SC remains underdeveloped. Transitional communities exhibited the lowest overall SC in disaster response, UCs demonstrated the highest, and RCs showed moderate levels. These differences can be attributed to distinct community characteristics. Urban communities benefit from formal organizations, stable management structures, and broader external networks; RCs rely on strong internal ties despite limited external resources. Transitional communities face challenges due to high residential mobility, weakened social cohesion, and disorganized management structures. This study contributes to the understanding of SC in disaster contexts across diverse Chinese communities, particularly in TCs, and offers targeted policy recommendations to strengthen disaster response capacities through SC development.

Keywords

2021 Henan flood / Disaster response / Mixed methods / Social capital / Transitional community

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