Participant Social Network Research Articles

The influence of peer non-suicidal self-harm on young adults' urges to self-harm: experimental study.

To test the hypothesis that exposure to peer self-harm induces adolescents' urges to self-harm and that this is influenced by individual suggestibility. We recruited 97 UK-based adults aged 18-25 years with a recent history of self-harm, measuring baseline suggestibility (Resistance to Peer Influence; RPI) and perceived ability to control urges to self-harm (using an adapted item from the Self-Efficacy to Resist Suicidal Action scale; SEASA) before and after two self-harm vignettes featuring named peers from the participant's social network (to simulate exposure to peer non-suicidal self-harm) and after a wash-out exposure. We used paired t-tests to compare mean SEASA scores pre- and post-exposure, and linear regression to test for an association between RPI and change in SEASA scores pre- and post-exposure. Perceived ability to control urges to self-harm was significantly reduced following exposure to peer self-harm (t(96) = 4.02, p < 0.001, mean difference = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.31, 0.91), but was not significantly different from baseline after exposure to a wash-out. We found no association between suggestibility and change in urges to self-harm after exposure to peer self-harm. Our findings support social influences on self-harm in a sample of young adults, regardless of their individual degree of suggestibility.

The Role of Social Relationships in PrEP Uptake and Use Among Transgender Women and Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Qualitative studies suggest that social relationships play an important role in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use, but there have been few quantitative assessments of the role of social relationships in PrEP uptake or adherence. We examined the association between disclosure of study participation or LGBT identity and PrEP use in the 1603 HIV-negative participants enrolled in the iPrEx OLE study. We also evaluated the association between LGBT social group involvement and PrEP use. Study participation disclosure to parents and LGBT identity disclosure to anyone in a participant's social network were associated with greater PrEP uptake. Study participation disclosure to partners was associated with higher probability of having protective PrEP drug concentrations compared [risk difference 0.15 95% CI (0.01, 0.30)]. For each additional type of LGBT organization a participant was involved in, the probability of PrEP uptake and having protective drug concentrations increased by 0.04 [95% CI (0.03, 0.06)] and 0.04 (95% CI (0.02, 0.07)] respectively. Overall, social context was associated with PrEP use in iPrEx OLE, and should be taken into consideration when designing future PrEP implementation programs.

Physical activity buddies: a network analysis of social aspects of physical activity in adults

BackgroundPhysical inactivity is a major public health concern and more innovative approaches are urgently needed to address it. So far, physical activity interventions have largely ignored the extent to which an individual's social network can affect physical activity behaviours. The sparse evidence base has mainly relied on self-reported, cross-sectional data for social networks. However, novel technologies and analytical techniques afford new and promising means to obtain and analyse these data. MethodsThe purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and effect of social networks on physical activity behaviour in adults in a workplace setting. The specific objective was to investigate the structure of the social networks by individual factors (eg, sex and age) and healthy behaviours (eg, physical activity, smoking, and body-mass index). Data were obtained from 406 adults who participated in a 12-week physical activity intervention. Sensors were placed along footpaths, in the gym, and in the workplace. Participants scanned their loyalty card at the sensor when undertaking physical activity (eg, walking), which created a transaction (timestamp) logging their activity. With the near field communication and radio frequency identification technology, we generated the social network with time between card swipes and frequency of similar locations of card swipes. When a participant's social network data were unavailable, we excluded them from the analyses. Self-reported physical activity was measured with the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) at baseline, week 12, and 6 months. Regression modelling investigated the effect of number of so-called physical activity buddies and frequency of doing activity with a buddy. The statistical models accounted for four confounding variables: age, sex, education level (highest qualification attained), and staff grade. FindingsWe obtained follow-up data for 353 (87%) participants. The mean age of included participants was 43·32 years (SD 9·37). 272 (67%) were women. At baseline, 215 (53%) participants were categorised as having low activity levels with GPAQ. Regression analysis indicated that a rise in the number of buddies during the 12-week intervention was associated with increased physical activity. Coefficients showed that each additional friend was associated with a rise of 1·9 min (95% CI −0·12 to 3·8) of physical activity. InterpretationIndividuals who had a physical activity social network used their loyalty card more often and for longer than did those without such a network. Increased numbers of friends and social bonds for physical activity were associated with increased activity levels. Strategies to foster friend support for physical activity could be important for increases in activity. However, the focus of the research was the effect of buddies on physical activity behaviours. As such, the analyses were limited to the effect of individuals who were enrolled in the intervention; we did not consider attempting to model the broader social networks that exist outside of the workplace. Additionally, we did not account for reverse causality. Innovative methods that incorporate new technologies can be used to develop new peer-based physical activity interventions. FundingNational Prevention Research Initiative (G0802045) and their funding partners (Alzheimer's Research Trust; Alzheimer's Society; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; BHF; Cancer Research UK; Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government Health Directorate; Department of Health; Diabetes UK; Economic and Social Research Council; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council; HSC R&D Division of the Public Health Agency; MRC; Stroke Association; Welsh Assembly Government; World Cancer Research Fund; Department for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland [M6003CPH]).

An Exploratory Analysis of Changes in Self-Regulation and Social Support Among Men and Women in Recovery

The present study examined the association between changes in self-regulation and measures of general and specific social support that occurred across an 8 month interval among adults (n = 469: 317 men, 152 women; M age = 39.0 years) with histories of substance abuse. Participants resided in communal living, democratically governed, abstinent homes (n = 143) located across the United States. Participants' self-regulation scores, on average, increased over the 8 month period and the self-regulation change scores were significantly related to general social support. In addition, self-regulation score changes were associated with the participant's social network's support for drinking where greater support for drinking was accompanied by larger self-regulation increases. These findings augment research on multi-factor support theories and changes in self-regulation.

Interactive Use of Genograms and Ecomaps in Family Caregiving Research

This article argues for the concurrent and comparative use of genograms and ecomaps in family caregiving research. A genogram is a graphic portrayal of the composition and structure of one's family and an ecomap is a graphic portrayal of personal and family social relationships. Although development and utilization of genograms and ecomaps is rooted in clinical practice with families, as research tools they provide data that can enhance the researcher's understanding of family member experiences. In qualitative research of the supportive and nonsupportive interactions experienced by male family caregivers, the interactive use of genograms and ecomaps (a) facilitated increased understanding of social networks as a context for caregiving, (b) promoted a relational process between researcher and participant, and (c) uncovered findings such as unrealized potential in the participant's social network that may not be revealed with the use of the genogram or ecomap alone, or the noncomparative use of both.

Sex Partner Selection, Social Networks, and Repeat Sexually Transmitted Infections in Young Men: A Preliminary Report

The goal of this study was to examine the risk for repeat sexually transmitted infections (STIs) associated with reducing the number of sex partners who come from within the social networks of males 13 to 25 years old in Baltimore, Maryland, and Denver, Colorado. Asymptomatic males diagnosed with chlamydia and/or gonorrhea as part of an asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhea male screening project were recruited and interviewed about their sexual behaviors and their perceptions of social characteristics and sexual behaviors of their sex partners. We characterized the sex partners of each participant as belonging to or not belonging to his social network. We examined whether a decrease in percentage of sex partners who were in the participant's social network was associated with repeat infection. There were 47 participants in Baltimore and 92 in Denver. In both cities, there was a trend toward a finding that decreasing the percentage of sex partners belonging to a participant's social network was protective for repeat STI. These data suggest that interventions may need to be designed to reduce the prevalence of infection in the social networks of infected men.