Bridging the Family Void: A Systematic Review on Social Capital, Community
Interventions, and Late-Life Depression in an Aging World

PHAM Thi Kim Mai; PHAM Nguyen Kim Yen

doi:10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i05.030

Title: Bridging the Family Void: A Systematic Review on Social Capital, Community Interventions, and Late-Life Depression in an Aging World
Authors: PHAM Thi Kim Mai and PHAM Nguyen Kim Yen
Journal: International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER) ISSN: 2455-8834 Volume: 11 Issue: 5 Publication Date: May 2026 DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i05.030
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PHAM Thi Kim Mai1 and PHAM Nguyen Kim Yen2 1. Clinical Social Work Department, Boston College, USA. 2.Collaborator at Lumos Psychology Institute, Vietnam.
MLA 8 Mai, PHAM Thi Kim, and PHAM Nguyen Kim Yen. "Bridging the Family Void: A Systematic Review on Social Capital, Community Interventions, and Late-Life Depression in an Aging World." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 11, no. 5, May 2026, pp. 2289-2307, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i05.030. Accessed May 2026. APA 6 Mai, P., & Yen, P. (2026, May). Bridging the Family Void: A Systematic Review on Social Capital, Community Interventions, and Late-Life Depression in an Aging World. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 11(5), 2289-2307. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i05.030 Chicago Mai, PHAM Thi Kim, and PHAM Nguyen Kim Yen. "Bridging the Family Void: A Systematic Review on Social Capital, Community Interventions, and Late-Life Depression in an Aging World." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 11, no. 5 (May 2026), 2289-2307. Accessed May, 2026. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2026.v11i05.030.
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ABSTRACT: Background: Rapid global population aging and the accelerating shift from traditional multigenerational extended families to nuclear households have left a substantial proportion of older adults structurally isolated. While the detrimental physical and psychiatric impacts of late-life social disconnectedness are widely documented, the precise structural mechanisms through which diverse dimensions of social capital act as protective buffers remain highly fragmented. Objectives: This literature review systematically aggregates and synthesizes empirical evidence published over the last decade (2016–2026) to clarify the protective pathways of social capital and critically evaluate the intervention efficacy of diverse community-led programs targeting geriatric isolation and depression. Methods: Adhering strictly to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, systematic multi-database electronic searches were executed across PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and the Web of Science Core Collection to harvest high-quality peer-reviewed studies utilizing validated psychometric scales (e.g., UCLA Loneliness Scale, GDS-15, WHO-5). Results: The thematic synthesis reveals that while intra-familial bonding social capital remains a significant psychological anchor in collectivist cultures, its availability is structurally contracting globally. Consequently, bridging social capital embedded within neighborhood networks, local senior clubs, and civic organizations operates as a critical compensatory mechanism. This bridging asset mitigates geriatric depressive phenotypes by altering cognitive stress appraisals and down-regulating neuroendocrine stress responses, validating the Buffering Hypothesis. Furthermore, taxonomic evaluation indicates that structured group-based activity interventions (e.g., physical exercise, creative arts) yield superior long-term efficacy and participant retention compared to transient one-to-one befriending schemes or fragmented digital literacy groups. Conclusion: Protecting geriatric well-being requires a fundamental paradigm shift from reactive medicalized models to proactive, integrated social prescribing systems. Future policy must focus on designing age-friendly urban spaces and personalized intervention frameworks that converge continuous artificial intelligence companionship with active community bridging hubs.

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