Table 1 Measures used in the analysis of the effects of social capital on the wellbeing of older adults with NCDs

Respondents were asked to rate their well-being

(on a 5 -point scale; from very satisfied (1) to very dissatisfied (5)) with respect to how satisfied they were with:

1. Their daily energy

2. Their money to meet needs

3. Their health

4. Themselves

5. Their ability to perform daily living activities

6. Their personal relationships

7. The conditions of their living place and

8. Their life as a whole

Respondents who had been diagnosed with any one or more of the following diseases:

1. Arthritis

2. Hypertension

3. Stroke

4. Angina

5. Diabetes

6. Chronic lung disease,

7. Asthma

8. Depression

Respondents’ engagement in social activities in the past 12 months.

1. Attended any public meeting in which there was a discussion of local or school affairs

2. Met personally with someone you consider to be a community leader

3. Attended any group, club, society, union or organizational meeting

4. Worked with other people in your neighbourhood to fix or improve something

5. Had friends over to your home?

6. Been in the home of someone who lives in a different neighbourhood than you do or had them in your home

7. Socialized with co-workers outside of work

8. Attended religious services (not including weddings and funerals)

9. Gotten out of the house/your dwelling to attend social meetings, activities, programs or events or to visit friends or relatives

The response categories were never (1), once or twice per year (2), once or twice per month (3), once or twice per week (4), and Daily (5).

Respondent characteristics

A. Sociodemographic

1. Gender (Male/Female)

2. Age in years

3. Formal education (no formal/primary/ secondary/tertiary education)

4. Married /not married

5. Employment status (currently working/not currently working)

6. Income levels

B. Lifestyle characteristics

7. Ever/ Never/Present alcohol consumption

8. Ever/ Never/Present smoked tobacco

9. Daily servings of fruit and vegetable

10. Physical exercise

11. Rural Urban