Social network structure and composition in former NFL football players

Amar Dhand,Alvaro Pascual-Leone,Rachel Grashow,Sarah Cohan,Liam Mccafferty,Ann Connor,Albert-László Barabási,Ian M Corbin,Aaron Baggish,Ross Zafonte,Mark Weisskopf,Alicia J Whittington

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-80091-w

Abstract

Social networks have broad effects on health and quality of life. Biopsychosocial factors may also modify the effects of brain trauma on clinical and pathological outcomes. However, social network characterization is missing in studies of contact sports athletes. Here, we characterized the personal social networks of former National Football League players compared to non-football US males. In 303 former football players and 269 US males, we found that network structure (e.g., network size) did not differ, but network composition (e.g., proportion of family versus friends) did differ. Football players had more men than women, and more friends than family in their networks compared to US males. Black players had more racially diverse networks than White players and US males. These results are unexpected because brain trauma and chronic illnesses typically cause diminished social relationships. We anticipate our study will inform more multi-dimensional study of, and treatment options for, contact sports athletes. For example, the strong allegiances of former athletes may be harnessed in the form of social network interventions after brain trauma. Because preserving health of contact sports athletes is a major goal, the study of social networks is critical to the design of future research and treatment trials.

Highlights

A personal social network is an individual’s family, friends, and acquaintances and their interpersonal connections
We studied the personal social networks of former National Football League (NFL) players compared to non-football US males
Given the exposure to brain trauma and burden of chronic illness in the athletes, we hypothesized that former NFL players would have constricted personal social networks compared to US controls

Summary

Introduction

A personal social network is an individual’s family, friends, and acquaintances and their interpersonal connections. There have been concerns of neurodegenerative disorders such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis[3,4] These athletes experience cardiovascular5, endocrine[6], and mental health illnesses[7] due to exposure to unique physiological stress and trauma. Not all football players experience these multiple medical disorders, despite similar brain trauma history This observation suggests that the link between exposure and outcome is not clear-cut. Biopsychosocial factors, including social network changes, retirement adjustments, and financial status, have been suggested as influential effect modifiers that require further study[2] For these reasons, we studied the personal social networks of former National Football League (NFL) players compared to non-football US males. Given the exposure to brain trauma and burden of chronic illness in the athletes, we hypothesized that former NFL players would have constricted personal social networks compared to US controls. The findings show social network structure did not differ, but the types of persons who make up the players’ personal networks did differ from US controls

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