Unveiling health inequities: Exploring the role of social capital and public trust in bridging racial disparities in health-care coverage for Hispanics

ObjectiveThis study examines the racial disparity in health-care coverage between Hispanics and whites. Racial disparities in accessing health-care services have worsened in the United States, exacerbating social and economic inequality between whites and racial/ethnic minority groups. While existing research primarily attributes these disparities to income differences among racial groups, this study focuses on the mediating role of social capital and the moderating role of public trust in formal institutions, while controlling for income and other socioeconomic factors.MethodsDrawing on a survey data set collected in the Austin area of Texas in 2020, we test a series of regression models using mediating and moderating analyses.ResultsWe find that Hispanics, as a major ethnic minority group, have lower levels of social capital compared to whites, which contributes to the gap in health-care coverage. The results indicate that social capital has mediating effects in positively transmitting the effect of being Hispanic on access to health-care coverage. In addition, trust in nonprofits positively moderates the main relationship.ConclusionThe study suggests that promoting social capital for Hispanics can help bridge racial disparities in accessing healthcare. Our study provides policy recommendations for nonprofits to collaborate with government agencies.