Social capital and health among participants in the Cachibol League in Israel

Background: The Israeli cachibol League (Mamanet) is a community model that incorporates

physical activity and competitive sports. Our aim is to assess if participation in the Mamanet

League improved participants social capital and wellbeing.

Methods: Two groups were interviewed: a control group who did not participate and a group of

Mamanet participants. The women were interviewed within three months of joining (T1) and 13-

months later (T2). The questionnaire included questions on sociodemographic characteristics,

social capital (social support, social involvement, trust) and wellbeing (self-reported health

[SRH], psychosomatic symptoms, depressive symptoms).

Results: At T1 the Mamanet League participants had higher social capital and SRH scores than

the control group, and lower psychosomatic and depressive symptoms compared to the control

group. Participation in the Mamanet League seems to improve two of the three social capital

measures: social support and social involvement, showing an increase among the Mamanet

group and no change in the control group from T1 to T2. Participation in the Mamanet League

had no significant effect on levels of well-being.

Conclusions: Women from the Mamanet League group had better measures of wellbeing and

social capital to begin with, and participation increased two of the tree social capital measures.