Exploring the role of social capital on quality of life among South Asian Shia Muslim immigrant older adults in Canada

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the role that social capital has had on the quality of life reported by South Asian Shia Muslim immigrants from East Africa. Social Capital is based on two phenomena: social support networks and involvement in traditional culture. Eight members of this community were chosen and in depth interviews were used. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and common patterns were deduced. Codes were thencreated, and like codes were categorized into themes. The data analysis revealed five main themes, each containing two codes: (1) Community Bonding; (2) Support for Settlement; (3) Centrality of Faith; (4) Community Engagement and (5) Faith for Health. These themes identify the factors for quality of life among members of this South Asian Shia Muslim community in Vancouver. The results are beneficial for understanding the needs of ethnic immigrant communities and providing an environment conducive to successful aging post immigration.