A Systematic Review of Social Capital Measures: Applicability and Limitations for Intersex and Transgender Populations

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to identify, synthesize, and critically evaluate existing social capital measurement instruments, with a specific focus on their conceptual foundations, psychometric properties, and applicability to intersex and transgender populations. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (Page et al., 2021). Multiple electronic databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar, were searched. Studies were included if they described the development, validation, or application of social capital measures. Data extraction focused on instrument characteristics, theoretical frameworks, dimensional structure, psychometric properties, and population applicability. A narrative synthesis approach was used due to heterogeneity in study designs and measurement approaches. Twenty-one social capital instruments were included. The selected instruments demonstrated substantial heterogeneity in conceptualization, dimensional structure, and theoretical grounding, with most relying on domains such as bonding, bridging, structural, and cognitive social capital frameworks. Internal consistency was generally acceptable to strong (Cronbach’s α = .70 to .94). However, evidence for measurement invariance, longitudinal validity, and cross-population comparability was limited. Linking social capital was underrepresented across social capital measures. Furthermore, no instrument was explicitly designed for intersex or transgender populations, and only one partially addressed the relational structures of gay and bisexual men (GBM) through constructed family networks. Existing social capital instruments demonstrate acceptable psychometric properties but remain conceptually fragmented and structurally exclusionary. Future research should prioritize the development of inclusive, intersectional, and theoretically integrated measurement frameworks that better capture diverse social realities.