A Comparison of Social Capital Between Parents in Single and Two Parent Families in Japan

This paper examines differences in social capital that parents in single- and two-parent families in Japan experience. The extant literature has not empirically tested these differences, and thus this research provides a better understanding of the differences in capital that exist between adults in these two family structures. Previous work has suggested that single-parent families in Japan might experience different family contexts than those experienced by single-parent families in western countries (Bassani 2007a). Specifically, it has been noted that single-parent families in Japan might be embedded in a rich family network that leads them to have more capital than their counterparts in two-parent families. Examining the capital that is available to adults in both family structures is a good first step to better understanding this situation. Using the National Survey of Families data, the current study found that in most cases, adults living in two-parent families have slightly more social capital than adults in single-parent families. Although statistically significant, these differences are small. This research raises many questions regarding social capital among adults in single- and two- parent family structures, but also in the measurement of social capital.