Social capital and the number of children’s cafeterias (kodomo shokudo) in Japan: a longitudinal ecological analysis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: In Japan, community-driven dining spaces known as children's cafeterias (kodomo shokudo) have increased rapidly. Despite their rapid expansion, the role of social environmental factors in the development of children's cafeterias, particularly social capital, has received limited empirical attention. We examined the association between social capital and changes in the number of children's cafeterias in Japan. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal ecological study. The outcome was the change in the number of children's cafeterias per municipality between 2020 and 2022. Social capital indicators (trust in neighbors, norm of reciprocity, trust in the national government, neighborhood ties, and social participation) were derived from a nationwide internet survey. RESULTS: A total of 512 local municipalities were analyzed. Multiple regression analyses showed that higher neighborhood trust was positively associated with increases in the number of children's cafeterias, whereas denser neighborhood ties were inversely associated with such increases. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that cognitive and structural dimensions of social capital may operate differently in the diffusion of children's cafeterias. These results indicate that community social contexts are associated with the spread of child-focused initiatives.
Language: English
Topic: Social Capital and Networks
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,145
Awards: G1243903342, G1293722121, G1647977057, Epidemiological research for heated tobacco products use and the impact in the life-course, The relationship between working hours and workplace climate and employee health and productivity: a combined study including factors outside the workplace, Epidemiological study to evaluate an impact of new tobacco products in Japan, Long-term healthy lifestyls and risk of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes: a working population-based cohort study, Clarification of the relationship between periodontitis severity and the onset and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Estimation of future needs of life support services among community-dwelling older adults, A simulation modelling study to examine the effects of underlying factors and control measures on disease incidence and mortality in a population, G8595136466
OpenAlex ID: W7168269066