The effects of Social Capital Components on the Mental Health of Rural and Nomadic Women: A Case of the Members of Micro-credit Funds in Kerman Province

The main purpose of this research is to analyze the effects of social capital components on the mental health of rural and nomadic women that were the members of micro-credit funds in Kerman province. The study is a descriptive-correlational research conducted through a survey technique. The statistical population consisted of all the members of the micro-credit funds in Kerman province (N = 1146). As many as 300 members were selected as a sample using Krejcie and Morgan sample size table and the stratified random sampling method. The research tool was a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by an academic panel of agricultural extension and education and mental health experts. Its reliability was confirmed by using a pilot test and calculating Cronbach's Alpha coefficients (0.72 ≤ α ≤ 0.89). The findings of the correlational analysis revealed that all the components including social trust, social interaction, social participation, social cohesion, exchange of information with social system, and informal relations positively and significantly correlate with the mental health of women. Furthermore, the results of the regression analysis demonstrated that the variables of social trust, social interaction, social cohesion, and exchange of information with social system have positive and significant impacts on mental health. These variables explained 61.9 percent of the variance of the mental health of rural and nomadic women.