Exploring the role of social capital in flood risk reduction: Insights from a systematic review

Flooding is a widespread and destructive natural hazard that can have serious consequences for communities. It is particularly dangerous for vulnerable populations and can threaten lives and property. The potential of social capital to mitigate flood risks has been discussed in disaster literature. This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review comprising bibliometric and thematic analysis to identify and assess the critical relationship between floods and social capital. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was applied to review 32 research articles on flood and social capital systematically selected from a dataset of 194 articles retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database. Results revealed an increasing publication trend with environmental sciences, ecology, water resources, meteorology, and atmospheric sciences as the key research areas. The studies were contributed by 550 authors, 346 institutions, and 58 countries around the globe, with particular emphasis on SDG13: Climate Action. The thematic analysis identified four key themes: social networks, risk perception, flood response and recovery, and capacity building. The findings showed that social capital is a key indicator in reducing flood risk and should be considered part of flood risk management efforts. The study results can inform future research and help stakeholders develop strategies to enhance the resilience of exposed communities and reduce the impact of flood events.