Social Development & Welfare Planning

Analysis of Psychological Capital and Erotic Capital among Women: The Mediating Role of Social Capital

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mohammad hasan sharbatiyan 1
Shahram. basity 2
Ebrahim ghaed 3

1 PhD in Sociology of Social Issues Iran. Secretary of Education and Lecturer of Lecturer at Farhangian University, P.O. Box 889-14665, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Ethnology, Faculty member of The Department of Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

3 PhD in Economics from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Secretary of Education, Mashhad, Iran Email:

10.22054/qjsd.2026.94293.2778
Abstract
This study investigates how erotic capital among women in Damghan is activated within the city’s traditional sociocultural structure and how psychological and social capital contribute to its reinforcement. The research focused on women aged 15 to 75 and was grounded in Luthans’ psychological capital model, Putnam’s social capital theory, and Catherine Hakim’s conceptualization of erotic capital. Using an applied descriptive–analytical design, data were collected from 550 women selected through cluster random sampling across Damghan’s neighborhoods, employing standardized Likert‑based questionnaires with an overall reliability coefficient of 0.925. Descriptive results indicated that psychological, social, and erotic capital were at moderate levels. Path analysis demonstrated that psychological capital had a significant direct effect on social capital (β = 0.52), while social capital independently strengthened erotic capital (β = 0.48). When social capital entered the model, the direct effect of psychological capital on erotic capital decreased (β = 0.21), and the Sobel test confirmed the mediating role of social capital (Z = 4.92, p < .001). These findings suggest that within Damghan’s traditional context, psychological capital serves as the initial driver of women’s empowerment, yet the activation of erotic capital becomes possible only through legitimized social networks. Strengthening both psychological and social capital therefore provides an effective pathway for enhancing women’s social positioning and reducing cultural constraints.

Keywords

Psychological capital
social capital
sexual capital
women
Damghan
Subjects
Social Development & Welfare Planning

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 17 October 2026

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