Assessing the Role of Social Capital in Community Resilience and Social Work Practice in Flood-Prone Bayelsa Communities

Social capital constitutes a critical but underutilised resource in community resilience responses to recurrent flooding in riverine communities of South South Nigeria. This study assesses the relationship between social capital dimensions and community resilience in flood-prone communities of Bayelsa State, and analyses implications for social work practice. A cross-sectional mixed-method design is employed, with a structured survey of 220 community members in Yenagoa, Sagbama, and Southern Ijaw local government areas, complemented by 20 key informant interviews with community leaders and social workers. Structural equation modelling and thematic analysis are applied. The study finds that bonding social capital, characterised by strong intra-community trust and mutual aid networks, is positively associated with post-flood household recovery speed, while bridging social capital linking communities to external agencies improves access to relief resources. Social workers currently operating in flood-response settings rarely engage with social capital frameworks, focusing primarily on material assistance rather than strengthening social networks. The study applies social capital theory and community social work frameworks to argue for a network-strengthening practice model. Recommendations include training social workers in social capital assessment and facilitation, developing community network-mapping as a standard disaster preparedness tool, and establishing community social work coordinators in high flood-risk communities. Keywords: social capital, community resilience, flood, Bayelsa State, disaster social work