Social capital is associated with the enactment
of positive health behaviors and health outcomes because it
provides people a means to cope with life’s stresses. This
study asked whether, and to what extent, efficacy beliefs
(personal and proxy, A. Bandura, Ann Rev Psychol 52:1–
26, 2001) serve as mediating mechanism in the relationship
between social capital and HIV-prevention behaviors, and
if it is differentially associated with HIV-prevention
behaviors that are aligned on a continuum ranging from
individual action (practicing monogamy) to collective
action (use of HIV services). In an investigation with a
sample from Gobabis, Namibia (N = 300), regression
models revealed that bonding, bridging, and linking social
capital differentially predicted personal and proxy efficacy.
In addition, both social capital variables and types of
efficacy differentially predicted HIV-related behaviors and
intentions that varied in their social demand. Our findings
did not support a mediation model for efficacy in between
social capital and HIV-related behaviors and intentions.