Adolescent Social Networks Research Articles

Factors associated with perceived social support among adolescents in Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Perceived social support plays a crucial role in adolescent development, health, well-being, and resilience. Understanding the factors associated with perceived social support among adolescents is essential for designing effective interventions. However, research in this area, particularly within specific contexts, remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to identify the factors associated with perceived social support among adolescents in the Gamo Zone, South Ethiopia Regional State. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 1172 adolescents selected through a stratified multi-stage sampling method. Structured face-to-face interviews were employed for data collection. Summary statistics were utilized for data presentation. Multiple linear regressions were then performed to identify factors associated with perceived social support. The strength and direction of associations were presented using β coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The level of statistical significance was set at alpha 5%. The total mean for perceived social support among adolescents was 57.02 ± 12.68. Adolescents living with their biological parents reported significantly higher levels of perceived social support (β = 4.17, 95% CI: 2.00 to 6.34) compared to their counterparts. Similarly, adolescents engaged in paid work within the last 12 months reported higher perceived social support (β = 3.43, 95% CI: 1.39 to 5.46). Higher levels of parental monitoring were also associated with increased perceived social support (β = 3.03, 95% CI: 1.23 to 4.82). Additionally, adolescents who perceived risks for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems reported higher levels of perceived social support (β = 2.76, 95% CI: 0.84 to 4.69). Moreover, adolescents with good knowledge about SRH rights exhibited increased perceived social support (β = 2.46, 95% CI: 0.89 to 4.02). Furthermore, adolescents residing in rural areas reported higher levels of perceived social support compared to those in urban areas (β = 1.56, 95% CI: 0.16 to 3.11). The findings of this study reveal that factors such as living arrangements, employment status, parental monitoring, perceived risks for SRH problems, knowledge about SRH rights, and geographical context emerged as important predictors of perceived social support. Therefore, implementing interventions and initiatives to address these identified factors holds promise for nurturing resilient adolescent social support networks.

Gender differences in the associations between parental phubbing, fear of missing out, and social networking site addiction: A cross-lagged panel study

Despite the exploration of detrimental consequences of parental phubbing and adolescent social networking site (SNS) addiction, research regarding their bidirectional relationships and underlying mechanisms is lacking. To address this research gap, the present study explored the longitudinal and bidirectional relationships between parental phubbing, fear of missing out (FoMO), and adolescent SNS addiction. Furthermore, the study investigated the mediating role of FoMO and the moderating role of gender therein. Data were collected among 1447 Chinese adolescents in June 2019 (T1) and January 2020 (T2). The results showed significant positive correlations among all three variables in both waves. There were bidirectional associations between parental phubbing and adolescent SNS addiction. T1 parental phubbing positively predicted T2 FoMO, and T1 FoMO positively predicted T2 SNS addiction, but not vice versa. FoMO mediated the link between parental phubbing and subsequent adolescent SNS addiction. T1 SNS addiction predicted T2 parental phubbing, and T1 FoMO predicted T2 SNS addiction – but these effects were significant only among girls. The effect of T1 FoMO on T2 FoMO was significantly stronger among girls than in boys. The findings contribute to the literature on parental phubbing and adolescent SNS addiction and provide insights for prevention and intervention programs addressing adolescent SNS addiction.

Social exclusion as a major outcome domain of psychotic disorders: early predictors, and associations with non-recovery and clinical staging 21years after a first episode of psychosis.

People with psychotic disorders have high levels of social exclusion; however, little is known about its early predictors. We present a long-term observational cohort study aimed at examining early risk factors for later social exclusion. A total of 243 subjects were assessed at their first psychotic episode for early risk factors including sociodemographic variables, familial risk of major mental disorders, perinatal complications, childhood factors, and adolescent factors and re-assessed after a mean follow-up of 21years for 12 social exclusion domains: leisure activities, housing, work, income, neighborhood deprivation, educational attainment, physical and mental health, family and social support, legal competence, and discrimination. The ability of risk factors to predict social exclusion was examined using hierarchical linear regression. Overall social exclusion was independently predicted by low parental socio-economic status, length of follow-up, familial risk of schizophrenia, obstetric complications, neurodevelopmental delay, poor childhood adjustment, childhood adversity, poor adolescent social networks, poor adolescent adjustment, and low premorbid IQ. The model explained 58.2% of the variance in total social exclusion score. Each social exclusion domain was predicted by a different set of variables, which explained between 17.8 and 57.0% of their variance, although low socio-economic status, familial risk of schizophrenia, obstetric complications, childhood adversity, and poor social networks predicted most of the social exclusion domains. Early risk factors strongly predicted later social exclusion. A multifaceted approach to preventing later social exclusion is crucial in people with a first episode of psychosis and early risk factors of social exclusion.

Associations of Adolescent School Social Networks, Gender Norms, and Adolescent-to-Young Adult Changes in Male Gender Expression With Young Adult Substance Use

PurposeMale gender expression (MGE), which is shaped by sociocultural pressures around masculinity, has been previously associated with health. This study examines associations of adolescent social network variables and school gender norms with MGE changes from adolescence to young adulthood, and associations of these changes with young adult substance use. MethodsAnalyzing data from Waves I (1994–95, adolescents, aged 12–18) and IV (2008–09, young adults, 24–32) of a nationally representative longitudinal cohort study, male participants' MGE was assessed in each wave using a validated, empirically derived measure. Linear regression was used to evaluate associations of adolescent-to-young adult MGE changes between waves with adolescent social network characteristics and school gender norms. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between adolescent-to-young adult MGE changes and young adult substance uses (cigarette, marijuana, heavy alcohol, and recreational drug use, and prescription drug misuse). ResultsAmong 4,776 male participants, adolescent-to-young adult MGE changes were significantly associated with school gender norms such that adolescents whose MGE markedly departed from their schools' average exhibited greater MGE changes in the direction of their schools' average (β = −0.83, p < .01) relative to those who were more similar to school means. Adolescent-to-young adult increases in MGE were significantly associated with greater odds of all young adult substance use behaviors except prescription drug misuse. DiscussionAdolescents' MGE relative to other males at their school was associated with MGE changes toward school norms, with implications for young adult substance use. Adolescent gender norms may be an underexplored strategy for interventions to reduce substance misuse.

Disentangling associations between pubertal development, healthy activity behaviors, and sex in adolescent social networks.

With the onset of puberty, youth begin to choose their social environments and develop health-promoting habits, making it a vital period to study social and biological factors contextually. An important question is how pubertal development and behaviors such as physical activity and sleep may be differentially linked with youths' friendships. Cross-sectional statistical network models that account for interpersonal dependence were used to estimate associations between three measures of pubertal development and youth friendships at two large US schools drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Whole-network models suggest that friendships are more likely between youth with similar levels of pubertal development, physical activity, and sleep. Sex-stratified models suggest that girls' friendships are more likely given a similar age at menarche. Attention to similar pubertal timing within friendship groups may offer inclusive opportunities for tailored developmental puberty education in ways that reduce stigma and improve health behaviors.

Predictors of romantic partner nomination reciprocity in adolescent social networks

Network data uniquely allow –relationships to be multiply reported, creating varying rates of relationship nomination reciprocation. However, what drives such variation is unclear. Variation in reciprocation may reflect substantive information about relationships (e.g., social salience or desirability) or study design (e.g., question wording or capped nominations). We examine predictors of nomination reciprocity in romantic network data from the PROSPER study to analyze individual and dyadic predictors of nomination reciprocity. Results show higher grades predict higher reciprocity, while same-sex relationships and behaviorally discordant dyads are less likely to be reciprocal.

Adolescent network positions and memory performance in adulthood: Evidence from sibling fixed effects models with sociometric network data

Although research has explored social factors influencing memory performance during adolescence, the impact of adolescent social network positions remains largely unknown. This study examines whether adolescent network position is associated with memory performance in adulthood, while also considering potential gender differences. The study used a sibling sample from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 2462) and employed sibling fixed effects models to account for unobserved family background factors, such as genetics, parental characteristics, family environment, and childhood neighborhood. Four dimensions of adolescent network position—i.e., popularity, sociality, degree centrality, and closeness centrality—were sociometrically assessed in schools. Memory performance in adulthood was measured using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. The sibling fixed effects estimates indicate that sociality, degree centrality, and closeness centrality are significantly associated with increased memory performance in adulthood, even after controlling for unobserved family heterogeneity as well as a set of individual-level covariates. In contrast, controlling for unobserved family heterogeneity attenuated the association for popularity, making it statistically insignificant. This study also provides evidence of gender differences in the association between social network position and memory performance. The associations for popularity, sociality, and degree centrality are more pronounced among men than women. This study’s findings highlight the importance of adolescent network positions as social determinants in shaping cognitive outcomes over the life course. Interventions that encourage positive peer interactions and reduce social isolation during adolescence may help improve cognitive health in the population.

Similarities between friends on service, activism, and awareness of inequities in an adolescent social network.

This brief report characterizes the tendency of adolescent friends to be similar on civic behaviors and critical consciousness. Using two waves of network data from a high school that serves primarily low-income Latiné youth (2019, N = 519; 2020, N = 521), the present study examined homophily on service, activism, and awareness of inequities. The results of Exponential Random Graph Models indicated that adolescents tended to be friends with peers who had similar service behavior and awareness of inequities, but not activism. The findings suggest that schools could foster civic engagement by providing infrastructure that encourages civic interactions between peers. The current study highlights the potential that social network analysis holds for generating novel insights into the relational underpinnings of youth civic engagement.

Name order effects in measuring adolescent social networks using rosters

Recent studies have found order effects in social network data collection, where later names on a roster receive fewer nominations. Some thus argue for randomizing name orders or sampling peer names for survey rosters. We model order effects as biases in nomination choices and demonstrate observational and experimental methods for assessing these biases and illuminating their mechanisms. Employing these lenses, we find little evidence of order effects on eight sociometric questions in four middle school cohorts over six waves. To inform future work, we investigate aspects of the survey situation that may amplify or attenuate order effects. Analyzing these moderating forces offers guidance for detecting, understanding, and mitigating order effects in future research.

Adolescent Social Networks and Physical Intimate Partner Violence Among Colombian Rural Adolescents

ABSTRACT The current study analyzes individual and social network correlates of adolescent engagement in physical intimate partner violence (IPV) utilizing socio-centric data from a high-school population of 242 adolescents from rural Colombia. We studied self-reported victimization and perpetration for boys and girls. First, we used logistic regression to explore the relationship between adolescents’ IPV engagement and school peers’ IPV engagement, school violence victimization, and social network position, controlling for gender and age (N = 111). Second, we used social network statistical methods to investigate if there were more friendships of similar IPV status to the adolescent than expected by chance in their social networks. Our results show that the proportion of friends perpetrating physical IPV increased the probability of adolescents’ IPV perpetration. Contrarywise, the proportion of friends experiencing IPV victimization decreased with the adolescent’s own victimization. Being a victim (a status significantly more common among boys) was also associated with reporting perpetration for both genders. Furthermore, our results contradicted the social network literature, as we found no preferential ties among perpetrators/victims (e.g. adolescents do not seem to befriend each other by IPV engagement). Our study is unique to the global adolescent IPV literature given the scarcity of research examining physical IPV among adolescents in the context of both girls and boys in the context of their school networks. We also add to the understanding of IPV in the case of the global majority of adolescents with the highest rates of IPV victimization (living in low and middle-income countries).

Associations between social networks and creative behavior during adolescence: The mediating effect of psychological capital

Creative behaviors in adolescence are associated with peer relationships. However, the specific manifestations and mechanisms are poorly understood. According to the small-world theory, peer social networks is contributed to creative behavior. Meanwhile, according to the social capital theory, adolescents can gain social support from peer social networks; in turn, they accumulate psychological capital to support their creative behaviors. The current study used a social network research design to examine associations between adolescent social network position (indegree, outdegree, closeness, and betweenness) within their peer network and their creative behaviors. A total of 783 adolescents aged 15–18 years (M = 16.41; 48.7% female) were recruited to participate in this study. The results showed that indegree, closeness, and betweenness centrality positively predicted the creative behavior of adolescents through the mediating effect of psychological capital. The finding supports the view of the small world theory and social capital theory that adolescents’ peer status in a social network promotes their psychological capital, which in turn promotes the expression of creative behaviors.

A Longitudinal Cohort Study of Adolescent Social Network Positions and Lifetime Daily Smoking and Nicotine Dependence

This study investigated the extent to which adolescent social network positions are associated with the risk of lifetime daily smoking and nicotine dependence (ND), and whether these associations differ by gender. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health ( N = 6,267), this study estimated multinomial logistic regression models. An increase in in-degree nominations, out-degree nominations, and Bonacich centrality was associated with a lower relative risk of never smoking daily versus ever smoking daily. By contrast, adolescents with greater in-degree nominations, out-degree nominations, Bonacich centrality, and network reach in three steps were at decreased risk for lifetime ND. Gender-stratified models indicate that the negative association between network position and never smoking daily was driven largely by women, whereas the positive association between network position and lifetime ND was driven largely by men. Incorporating social network structural approaches into adolescent smoking prevention efforts may be beneficial.

106. Adolescent Social Networks and School Engagement Across the High School Transition

106. Adolescent Social Networks and School Engagement Across the High School Transition

PENGGUNAAN MEDIA SOSIAL PADA REMAJA SOCIAL NETWORKING ADDICTION DI DESA LELEKA KECAMATAN WOLASI KABUPATEN KONAWE SELATAN

The purpose of this writing is to identify and provide an understanding of the Use of Social Media In Adolescent Social Networking Addiction In Leleka Village, Kec. Wolasi District, South Konawe. The method is through training, workshops, mentoring and evaluation as a concrete form of community service activities. The results of Community Service in Leleka Village, Wolasi District, South Konawe Regency are that adolescents can reduce the level of social networking addiction by removing social media installed on smartphones if using social media via a computer, turning off notifications while working, studying, or doing other important things, providing regular schedule for accessing social media, looking for fun or other activities outside of social media, leaving all gadgets in a separate room when hanging out with family, and visiting relatives and family in person to make relationships warm.

Cyberviolence in young couples and its predictors

The aims of this research were to analyze the presence of cyberviolence in young couples, to explore the associations between cyberviolence, emotional dependence, empathy, and filioparental relationships, and to identify predictors of cyberviolence. For this purpose, a convenience sample consisting of 469 university students was selected. They completed the following measures: The Adolescent Social Network Partner Violence Scale, the Parental Bonding Instrument, the Dating Emotional Dependence in Youth and Adolescents, and the Basic Empathy Scale. 51.9% of the sample admitted to having suffered cyber-violence, and 56.6% admitted to having perpetrated it. Boys scored higher than girls on cyberviolence and cybervictimization. It was found that the higher the level of education, the lower level of cyberviolence and the higher the number of partners, the greater the possibility of suffering cyberviolence. The scarce empirical evidence about the factors related to cyberviolence points to the need of further research on individual and family variables.

“A lot better than it used to be”: a qualitative study of adolescents’ dynamic social recovery capital

Background Substance use recovery is a dynamic process for youth, and social networks are tied to the recovery process. The Recovery Capital for Adolescents Model (RCAM) situates the resources accessible through social networks – social recovery capital (SRC) – in a larger framework of developmentally-informed recovery resources. This study aims to investigate the social network experiences among recovering youth enrolled in a recovery high school to understand how social influences help to build, or act as barriers to building, recovery capital. Methods To gain insight into these networks, Social Identity Maps and semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten youth ages 17–19 years (80% male; 50% non-Hispanic White). Study visits were conducted virtually, recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using the RCAM as an organizing framework. Results Results supported that adolescent social networks play a unique and multifaceted role in the recovery journey. Three key nuances emerged: change permeates adolescent networks throughout the treatment and recovery process; shared substance use history and non-stigmatizing attitudes play a key role in connecting with others; and SRC is interconnected with human, financial, and community recovery capital. Conclusions With adolescent recovery receiving increased attention from policy makers, practitioners, and researchers, the RCAM may be a useful way to contextualize available resources. Findings suggest SRC as a crucial, yet complex component intertwined with all other forms of recovery capital.

The Influence of a School Social Network Intervention on Adolescent's Health Behaviors: A Gender-Specific Agent-Based Model.

IntroductionAdolescence is a crucial stage for health behavior development, which is associated with health in adulthood. School closures caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have exposed adolescents to an increased risk of obesity due to a lack of physical activity. Although social network interventions provide an effective approach for promoting health-related behavior, current practices neglect gender differences in adolescent behavioral patterns and emotional preferences. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of centrality-based methods integrated with of gender contexts in a social network intervention to improve adolescent's health behavior.MethodsWe developed an agent-based model (ABM) that supports the small-world characteristics of adolescent social networks. Health-related data for junior middle school students (n = 234, 48% girls) were collected in November 2018, 2019 and 2020 in Tianjin, China. We simulated multiple network-based interventions with different criteria for influential agents (i.e., betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, eigenvector centrality, and PageRank) and a random condition. The rules for generating peer influence and accelerating behavioral changes were based on the diffusion of innovations theory, with gender specifications.ResultsAfter the school closures, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents, with a greater increase in girls than in boys (+8.85% vs. +1.65%, p < 0.001). Simulations showed that centrality-based network interventions were more effective than the random condition (average 6.17% per tick vs. 5.22% per tick, p < 0.05), with a higher efficiency in girls than boys (average 3.68% vs. 2.99% per tick, p < 0.05). PageRank outperformed other centrality conditions at the population level (6.37% per tick, p < 0.05). In girls, betweenness centrality was the best method (3.85% per tick, p < 0.05), while in boys, PageRank still had the greatest efficiency (3.21% per tick, p < 0.05).ConclusionsWe found evidence for gender differences in the negative impact of COVID-19-related school closures and the potential for centrality-based social network interventions to affect adolescent health behavior. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of gender-specific targeting strategies to further promote health-related school programs in the post-pandemic era.

Longitudinal evidence on adolescent social network position and cardiometabolic risk in adulthood

RationaleDespite the importance of the role of social networks in health, few studies have examined the relationship between adolescent social network position and adult health. ObjectiveThis study examines whether several dimensions of one's social network position in adolescence is associated with cardiometabolic risk in adulthood among U.S. adolescents. This study also explores the mechanisms that undergird the relationship between adolescents' network position and their later-life health. MethodsUsing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 9517), this study uses ordinary least squares regression models with school fixed effects. Three measures of adolescent social network position, including popularity, Bonacich centrality, and social isolation, were sociometrically assessed in schools. Cardiometabolic risk in adulthood was based on 12 biomarkers covering four domains of physiological systems. ResultsAll three measures of adolescent network position were associated with adult cardiometabolic risk even after controlling for sociodemographic and family-level covariates, as well as school fixed effects. Controlling for adolescent characteristics attenuated the associations for popularity, Bonacich centrality, and isolation by 31%, 58%, and 26%, respectively, which rendered the associations for Bonacich centrality statistically nonsignificant. Adult health behaviors were the most consistent mediator for popularity and isolation, whereas adult socioeconomic attainment explained part of the association for popularity. In contrast, adult social integration did not play a mediating role. Simultaneously controlling for all proposed mechanism variables explained 17% and 18% of the associations for popularity and isolation, respectively. ConclusionsFindings of this study suggest that social network position during adolescence has enduring consequences for cardiometabolic risk in adulthood. A combination of behavioral and human capital pathways explains part of the associations, though they appear to operate differently for distinct network position measures.

Selection or influence? The position-based method to analyzing behavioral similarity in adolescent social networks

ABSTRACT Assessing friends’ selection and influence effects on their behavioural similarity is a challenge in adolescent behaviour research. In the present article, I propose an evaluation method along with social network analysis to examine changes in friendship networks and behavioural pattern in order to identify the prioritization of selection and influence effects at the earlier stage of adolescent formation of behaviour. To test this proposed method, the empirical data is from Taiwan Youth Project. Results show that adolescents’ behavioural similarity with regard to academic performance and delinquent behaviour is particularly affected by the selection effect at first, and then influence effect jointly shaped the behaviour patterns. This proposed model testing network-behaviour covariance would provide an alternative way of thinking for educational practitioners when dealing with deviating adolescent behaviour as well as developing their pro-social behaviours.

Relationship between adolescent friendship networks and contraceptive use and unintended pregnancies in early adulthood in the United States

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between reproductive attitude of friends during adolescence, and unintended pregnancy outcomes and contraceptive non-use during early adulthood. Study DesignWe used longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 1866). Adolescent friendship network structures were constructed from the first wave of data to assess reproductive attitudes of friends, measured via 3 subscales: attitude toward contraceptive use, attitude toward sex in adolescence, and attitude toward pregnancy in adolescence. We then used multilevel logistic regression to examine the relationship of friends’ reproductive attitudes in adolescence with unintended pregnancy and contraceptive non-use in adulthood. ResultsAround one-third of the sample experienced at least one unintended pregnancy, and 12% reported contraceptive non-use. Being friends with individuals who are not accepting of adolescent pregnancy reduced the likelihood of an unintended pregnancy in young adulthood (adjusted odds ratios [aOR]: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.67–0.94); this association varied by sex, being significant only for females (aOR:0.75; 95% CI: 0.58–0.96). Additionally, friends’ acceptability of adolescent sex increased the odds of contraceptive use in later life. Individuals with friends who held negative attitude toward contraceptive use during adolescence were more likely to be non-users in later life (aOR:1.37; 95% CI: 1.03–1.81). ConclusionsOur results suggest a relationship between adolescent social networks and reproductive health outcomes in young adulthood, highlighting the importance of friendship networks for young individuals’ reproductive well-being. ImplicationsAttitudes held by adolescent friends regarding contraceptive use, adolescent sex, and adolescent pregnancy have significant, and distinct associations with an individuals’ later-life reproductive health outcomes. Future research should consider evaluation of social network-based sexual and reproductive health interventions aimed at adolescents.