Dynamic social network analysis of a brief alcohol intervention trial in heavy-drinking college students shows spillover effects.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Heavy-drinking college students tend to have close social networks, and there is theoretical and empirical support for the idea that behavior change can spread through those networks via close ties. The objective of this research was to determine whether intervention-induced behavior change in a subset of heavy drinkers in a sociometric (whole) college class-year social network is transmitted to other heavy drinkers in the network, resulting in reduced behavioral risk and change in network ties.

Methods

We conducted a controlled trial in which most of a first-year college class (N = 1236; 56.9% female) was enrolled, with alcohol use and social network ties measured early in each of three semesters. Following a baseline assessment, the network was divided into two

SUBMITTER: Barnett NP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10922236 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature