Factors Affecting Social Capital: A Case Study of Female Pre-University Students of Shiraz

The present study aims to asses the rate of social capital as well as the factors affecting it among female pre-university students of Shiraz. The research questions are: ‘What is the total rate of social capital among female pre-university students of Shiraz?’ and ‘What are the sociological factors affecting social capital?’ Using random and multistage cluster sampling, 400 students were selected. The data were collected through questionnaires. Theoretical framework of the research is based on social capital-related theories ofFrancis Fukuyama, Robert Putnam and Coleman.The results showed that the average of social capitalat individual and primary group levelsas well as institutional, organizational, provincial, and national levels is 59.8%. Among the three levels of the dependent variable, the micro-level of social capital has the highest average (70%). Furthermore, there was a positive and significant relationship between the independent variables of forms of identity, mental health, parents’ educational status, cultural capital and the dependent variable of social capital. The results also indicated that the rate of female art students’ social capital is significantly less than that of other majors. Moreover, students residing at expensive districts of the town demonstrated the lowest rate of social capital and the students residing at cheap areas demonstrated the highest rate.