近幾年來公共衛生學者Kawachi 等人將此概念運用在維持公共健康，關注的重點是社會資本與維持社群健康之間的關連，相關研究發現社會資本具有促進組織及社區支持的功效，會對人們的健康帶來影響。
Kawachi, I., Kennedy, B. P., Lochner K., & Prothrow-Stith, D. (1997a). Social capital, income inequality, and mortality, American Journal of Public Health, 87: 9, 1491-1498.
Kawachi I., & Kennedy B. P. (1997b). Health and social cohesion: why care about income inequality? British Medical Journal, 314, 1037- 1040.
Kawachi I., & Kennedy B. P. (1999a). Income inequality and health: Pathways and mechanisms, Health Services Research, 34: 1, 215-227.
Kawachi, I., Kennedy, B. P., & Glass, R. (1999b). Social capital and self-rated health: A contextual analysis, American Journal of Public Health, 89: 8, 1187-1193.
