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PubMed2003

The persistent influence of social networks and alcoholics anonymous on abstinence.

OBJECTIVE: The role of changes in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) involvement and social networks in relation to abstinence following substance abuse treatment is studied. Specifically, the role of AA and network support for abstinence are examined in relation to their effect on changes in abstinence states between follow-ups. METHOD: Study sites were 10 representative public and private alcohol treatment programs in a northern California county. A recruitment of 367 men and 288 women seeking treatment were interviewed at intake and re-interviewed 1 and 3 years later to collect information about alcohol consumption, dependence symptoms, social support for reducing drinking, number of heavy drinkers in the social network and AA involvement. RESULTS: Significant predictors of 90-day abstinence at both the 1- and 3-year follow-up interviews included AA involvement in the last year, percentage of heavy or problem drinkers in the social network, percentage encouraging alcohol reduction and AA-based support for reducing drinking. Panel models estimated an increase in AA participation between 12 and 36 months posttreatment increased the odds of abstinence at 3 years by 35% above those at 12 months. The only significant mediator of AA's effect on abstinence was the number of AA-based contacts supporting reduced drinking, which reduced the magnitude of the relationship by 16%. CONCLUSIONS: AA involvement and the type of support received from AA members were consistent contributors to abstinence 3 years following a treatment episode. The enduring effects observed from supportive networks demonstrate the importance of ongoing mechanisms of action that contribute to an abstinent lifestyle.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Individuals with diabetes mellitus with and without depressive symptoms: could social network explain the comorbidity?

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of the present study was to obtain an approximate prevalence of depressive symptoms in a community sample of persons with diabetes mellitus and to discover whether social networks could explain comorbidity of diabetes mellitus and depressive symptoms. METHOD: Subjects were persons with diabetes mellitus, members of the Diabetes Association of Ljubljana (N = 396, average age: 62.9 +/- 13.4, average duration of diabetes: 17.2 +/- 10.6). Firstly, subjects were screened with CESD (Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) and demographic data were also gathered. Secondly, two samples (individuals with and without depressive symptoms) were compared on the basis of social network analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher among persons with diabetes in comparison with general population. Individuals with depressive symptoms compared with individuals without depressive symptoms were less dissatisfied with diabetes (p = 0.011), and had better informational (p = 0.039) and instrumental support (p = 0.046), relations between them and support givers were closer (p = 0.050), more important and less conflicting (p = 0.042). Compared groups did not differ in quantitative characteristics of social networks (eg. size of the network or the network gender structure). CONCLUSIONS: The community sample results in Slovenia support the already reported association between diabetes mellitus and depression. Furthermore, social network analysis offered some potentially relevant explanation for comorbidity of diabetes mellitus and depressive symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Social networks and psychopathology among substance abusers.

The authors studied the social networks and psychopathology of 168 patients with diagnoses of substance abuse. Small network size was correlated with higher scores on the Modified Michigan Alcohol-Drug Screening Test, higher symptom reports on the SCL-90 and the Beck Depression Inventory, and more observed psychopathology according to the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Larger network size was correlated with better functioning according to the Global Assessment Scale and DSM-III axis V. The authors conclude that such symptom complexes as paranoia and phobia may undermine the social networks of substance abusers more than such symptom complexes as anxiety and depression.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

A longitudinal study of the causal relationship between social networks and health of the poor frail elderly.

Research over the past two decades has documented a positive relationship between social support and health. The causal interpretation of these associations has, however, been unclear. This study aims at filling the gap in our understanding of this causal link with respect to the frail poor elderly. The main questions addressed are, Does lack of social ties affect the elderly's health? or are unhealthy people less likely to establish and maintain social ties? We employed a time-series panel design to overcome problems of causal explanations and examine social networks and health in a sample of 3,559 poor frail elderly, participants of the California Multipurpose Senior Services Project. The results indicate that social networks have a positive effect on health (though only in the short run). However, neither the subjective nor the objective health measures have a significant effect on social networks. Implications for intervention are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Social network advice during pregnancy: myths, misinformation, and sound counsel.

One hundred eighty-five low-income, inner-city women were interviewed after they gave birth. They were allowed to report on up to 30 members of their social networks, including household members, relatives, and friends. Questions were asked regarding the types and nature of health advice given to them by these individuals, the relationship of each advisor, and his or her age and sex. Respondents received between 0 and 211 (median 20) pieces of advice related to pregnancy health from 0 to 19 (median 5) members of their social networks. Both folk beliefs and information aligned with accepted medical views of health promotion were communicated to individual women. Most advice rendered was sound, but often the rationale for the recommended health action was poorly understood. Some respondents received advice that, if followed, could be harmful to health. This suggests that for some low-income, inner-city women, social networks serve as important resources for health information. However, the advice they convey may cause unnecessary worry or come into conflict with recommendations of health care providers. Therefore, new educational strategies are required to address the informational needs not just of individual women, but of their social networks as well.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Structure of growing social networks.

We propose some simple models of the growth of social networks, based on three general principles: (1). meetings take place between pairs of individuals at a rate that is high if a pair has one or more mutual friends and low otherwise; (2). acquaintances between pairs of individuals who rarely meet decay over time; (3). there is an upper limit on the number of friendships an individual can maintain. Using computer simulations, we find that models that incorporate all of these features reproduce many of the features of real social networks, including high levels of clustering or network transitivity and strong community structure in which individuals have more links to others within their community than to individuals from other communities.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1977

Community mental health nursing: a social network approach.

This paper describes an intervention technique that the psychiatric nurse may find useful in community mental health settings. This technique is called social network intervention. It attempts to combine the best of traditional clinical psychotherapeutic method with the advantages of a social systems approach for working with the patient in psychiatric distress. The technique is based on the assumption that the solution to a variety of human predicaments lies within the collective instrumental and affective resources of a patient's social network. The vehicle for accomplishing this is the "Network Session" during which a mental health clinician convenes the patient and his/her social network to help plan and resolve the difficulty. A Case Report demonstrating the use of the technique is included.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Study of influences of social support and social networks on participation in periodic health examination of the elderly at home comparison of three regions with different social backgrounds].

PURPOSE: Periodic health examination are presumed to be important with respect to the well-being of aged individuals. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationships between elderly at home accepting periodic health examination and their social support and social networks. METHOD: The survey was performed targeting so-called young elderly persons living at home in 3 regions in Hokkaido Prefecture, a large city (Sapporo), an ex-coalmining town (Yuubari) and a small farming town (Takasu). The study populations were asked about social support and social networks, and the Mantel-Haenszel method was applied to analyze the data. RESULTS: 1) Both males and females who received periodic health examination within the last one year (participants) were members of various groups, such as neighborhood societies, clubs for the elderly and so on, and were more interested in public magazines and political issues than those who had never received periodic health examination (non-participants). Elderly males who accepted periodic health examination were those who were interested in elections, who had a hobby, and who thought that life was worthwhile. 2) Both elderly males and females who accepted periodic health examination were those who had friends, and elderly males who accepted periodic health examination were those who had close relatives and who lived in a friendly neighborhood. 3) Elderly males who accepted periodic health examination were more likely to both receive and supply instrumental and emotional support in interaction with others.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Social networks among users of mental health day care--predictors of social contacts and confiding relationships.

BACKGROUND: The social networks of people with mental illness have received much attention, but users of day care services have rarely been considered. METHODS: Users of day hospitals and day centres were surveyed cross-sectionally. Demographic and illness factors were tested for associations with network size, while intrinsic relationship factors were tested for association with confiding in a network member. RESULTS: There was some evidence that a longer duration of contact with services, more unmet needs, working, living in supported accommodation and needing help with psychotic symptoms were associated with having a larger network, while a longer duration of contact was associated with having more confidantes. Day centre users confided in people who were more likely to be friends or neighbours than professionals, and who were more likely to be the same sex. CONCLUSION: For people in day care, the stereotype that people with longer-term mental health problems are socially isolated is contradicted by this study. The limited role of professionals in providing confiding relationships is striking.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Social networks and self-rated health in two French-speaking Canadian community dwelling populations over 65.

The objective was to evaluate the associations between older persons' health status and their social integration and social networks (family, children, friends and community), in two French-speaking, Canadian community dwelling populations aged 65 years and over, using the conceptual framework proposed by Berkman and Thomas. Data were taken from two 1995 surveys conducted in the city of Moncton (n = 1518) and the Montreal neighbourhood of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve (n = 1500). Social engagement (a cumulative index of social activities), networks consisting of friends, family and children and social support were measured using validated scales. Multiple logistic regressions based on structured inclusion of potentially mediating variables were fitted to estimate the associations between health status and social networks. Self-rated health was better for those with a high level of social integration and a strong network of friends in both locations. In addition, in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve family and children networks were positively associated with good health, though the effect of friend networks was attenuated in the presence of disability, good social support from children was associated with good health. Age, sex and education were included as antecedent variables; smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, locus of control and depressive symptoms were considered intermediary variables between social networks and health. In conclusion, social networks, integration and support demonstrated unique positive associations with health. The nature of these associations may vary between populations and cultures.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The relevance of social network concepts to sexually transmitted disease control.

Many of the concepts of social network analysis have been tacit assumptions of sexually transmitted disease control efforts for decades. With the advent of AIDS in the 1980s, an overt rapprochement between these two fields--previously separated by culture, context, and language--was made. Social network constructs have immediate appeal to disease control workers, who view many diseases as following the conduits of social interactions. STDs and HIV, in turn, provide network analysts and those who model disease transmission with substantial sets of empirical data that test and illuminate theory. Disease control efforts can be enhanced by incorporating network concepts overtly into current practices. Such concepts offer a path to better delineation of groups at risk, to a better understanding of the interaction of personal risk taking and the social context, and to evaluation of control mechanisms.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Unraveling the web of personality judgments: the influence of social networks on personality assessment.

Contemporary assessment models have focused on the degree to which self- and other reports of personality description agree in an effort to define consensus and agreement about personality attributes. In general, we believe that analyses of this type of data have been limited in that they tend to focus on both simple models (usually dyad-based) and simple aggregations of data (usually correlations between self- and other ratings). In addition, the behaviors used as stimuli in experimental settings lack the richness of behaviors in natural social settings. Here, we present some ideas from social network models in an effort to influence broader conceptualizations of agreement and consensus in assessment. Social network models provide a more complete description of interpersonal behavior beyond the dyadic level in both laboratory and natural settings. After defining some basic social network concepts, we go on to suggest the applicability of these concepts to personality assessment and, more specifically, to how these models might be used to study self-other agreement and consensus about personality judgments. Empirical data are used to illustrate social network concepts in the domain of personality assessment.

Female↗
PubMed2003

Social network correlates among people with psychiatric disabilities.

This study explores three social network characteristics as they relate to demographic, clinical, and quality of life factors. The sample consists of 219 participants with serious mental illness. Results indicate that clients' social networks were small, and that network size is robustly related to symptoms and other measures of clinical and cognitive functioning, as well as with quality of life and self-esteem. The expected relation between network density and either the demographic variables or quality of life was not found. Moderate levels of network density, however, were associated with fewer psychiatric symptoms and higher IQ. Network multiplexity was most highly associated with demographic variables, such as ethnic minority status, less education, never being married, and living with family.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Social network methods for endemic foci of syphilis: a pilot project.

BACKGROUND: Social network methods have improved our understanding of sexually transmitted disease transmission dynamics, and may be of use in routine field operations for partner notification. GOAL: To augment traditional syphilis-control activities with social network methods in an Atlanta area with high syphilis morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: Disease investigators conducted interviews, used network diagrams to prioritize their work, and relied on network connections for finding hard-to-reach persons. RESULTS: A total of 396 contacts were elicited from 48 infected and 50 uninfected persons. The cumulative prevalence of syphilis was 12.6%, and 24 persons infected with HIV were identified. Network methods disclosed a large, interconnected group (276 persons) characterized by high network centrality and the substantial presence of small, interactive subgroups (microstructures). CONCLUSION: The network approach is a feasible field technique, and can identify core groups involved in the intense transmission of syphilis. The targeted, network-based approach may be useful in attempts to eliminate syphilis.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Relation between structure and size in social networks.

In the context of complex network systems, we model social networks with the property that there is certain degradation of the information flowing through the network. We analyze different kinds of networks, from regular lattices to random graphs. We define an average coordination degree for the network, which can be associated with a certain notion of efficiency. Assuming that there is a limit to the information a person may handle, we show that there exists a close relationship between the structure of the network and its maximum size.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Quality of social network for pregnant women in Japan with focus on parity and family structure.

The purpose of this study was to identify 1) the quality of human network of a pregnant woman, and 2) characteristics of a high-risk pregnant woman for motherhood due to the shortage of social support. We reviewed social network system using a questionnaire: size; nature of relationship with a pregnant woman; duration of relationship with her; frequency of contact with her; and distance from her residence. We also categorized the subjects according to two typical conditions: parity (primigravida or multigravida) and family structure (nuclear or extended). The author interviewed 125 subjects in their final trimester, living in Narashino City near Tokyo to answer the questionnaires. 117 pregnant women agreed and participated in the study. It was found that our subjects had the social network consisted of the mean size of 9.0 supportive members (SD = 1.9), which was similar to that (8.5) reported in the USA by Cronenwett. Our subject perceived her husband and mother most important as supportive members. 10 to 20% of our subjects perceived husbands' mothers, brothers, and even their friends as non-supportive members. Roughly 40 to 60% of our subjects did not list husbands' fathers, brothers and fathers as network members. We found that pregnant women in Japan, especially primigravidas and pregnant women belonging to nuclear family, had poor quality of social support network. Pregnant women with poor quality of social network were considered as high risk for emotional and behavioral problems both to mother and child. Therefore, midwives should be able to predict the risk or mental stress in childcare due to shortage of social support. This will avoid child abuse through the establishment of necessary human network for isolated mothers.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The role of the social network in active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain insight into the involvement of a patient's social network in the process leading to the administration of euthanasia and assisted suicide (EAS). DESIGN: Descriptive, retrospective. METHOD: Data were collected by means of anonymous questionnaires sent to a random sample of 521 general practitioners (GPs) in the Province of North Holland and 521 GPs from the rest of the Netherlands and all 713 Dutch nursing home physicians (NHPs). The data were collected over the period 1986 to June 1990 inclusive. RESULTS: GPs and NHPs had discussions most often with the partner of the patient about the patient's request for EAS, the doctor's intention to administer EAS and the actual administering of EAS. According to both the GPs and the NHPs the social network practically always agreed with the doctor's decision to administer EAS. The persons who were most often present at the patient's bedside when EAS was administered were the patient's partner and children (29%). Often, especially in the cases of GPs, the decision not to report EAS was determined by the desire of relatives and/or the physician not to involve the relatives in a judicial inquiry. CONCLUSION: To a large extent the social network was involved in the patient's request for EAS, the doctor's intention to administer EAS and the actual administering of EAS. This seems to be important both for good decision-making with regard to EAS and for helping relatives to come to terms with the loss of a dear one.

Communication↗
PubMed2006

Promoting breastfeeding in Bolivia: do social networks add to the predictive value of traditional socioeconomic characteristics?

This study tested whether the prediction of health-related knowledge (correct breastfeeding practices in this case) could be improved by including information about the composition of an individual's personal network above and beyond that predicted by his/her socioeconomic or demographic characteristics. Few studies have tested the predictive value of social networks, especially for population-based studies, despite an increased use of social networks in the past few years in several fields of health research, especially in research relating to prevention of HIV/AIDS and design of HIV/AIDS programmes. Promotion of breastfeeding practices that enhance child survival is important in Bolivia because of high infant morbidity and mortality in the country. Data on a cross-sectional urban probability sample of 2,354 women and men aged 15-49 years were collected from seven urban areas in Bolivia. Model building and the log likelihood ratio criteria were used for assessing the significance of variables in a logistic model. Results showed that the network variables added significantly (p < 0.05 for knowledge of breastfeeding only with no other liquids and for knowledge of breastfeeding only with no solids p < 0.01) to the predictive power of the socioeconomic variables. These results may also hold for other health research areas, increasingly using social network analysis, such as that of HIV/AIDS.

Adolescent↗