Chapter 6. Part 1. Social Networks and Health

What to know

Social networks seem to play a role together with culture, economics, and other factors, that is important for both individuals and communities.

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Section Overview

Social networks can play a key factor for the health of a community. On one hand, they can provide social support that helps protect against stressors that harm health. However, social networks can also have negative effects on health. Social networks, along with culture, economics, and other factors, play a crucial role for individuals and communities.

Examples

  • Researchers studied obesity within a network of people over time. They found that was a "spread" among those connected to each other
  • In New York City, outreach programs for breast and cervical cancer were tailored based on cultural perspectives and the influence of social networks

A critical first step in engaging communities is identifying networks, such as faith communities, to improve community health collectively.

Tip From the Literature‎

Social networks can also play an important part in community health improvement because of their role in the "diffusion of innovation" defined by Putnam (1995) as "features of social organization such as networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit".

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References

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Cattell V. Poor people, poor places, and poor health: the mediating role of social networks and social capital. Social Science and Medicine 2001;52:1501-1516.

Christakis NA, Fowler JH. The spread of obesity in a large social network over 32 years. New England Journal of Medicine 2007;357(4):370-379.

Cohen-Cole E, Fletcher JM. Detecting implausible social network effects in acne, height, and headaches: longitudinal analysis. BMJ 2008;337: a2533.'

Erwin DO, Johnson, VA, Trevino M, Duke K, Feliciano L, Jandorf L. A comparison of African American and Latina social networks as indicators for culturally tailoring a breast and cervical cancer education intervention. Cancer 2007;109(2 Suppl): 368-377.

House JS, Umberson D, Landis K. Structures and processes of social support. Annual Review of Sociology 1998; 14:293-318.

Pachucki M, Breiger, R. Cultural holes: beyond relationality in social networks and culture. Annual Review of Sociology 2010; 36:205-224.

Putnam RD. Bowling alone: America's declining social capital. Journal of Democracy 1995;6(1):65-78.

Wasserman S, Faust K. Social network analysis: methods and applications. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University; 1994.

Zilberberg MD. The clinical research enterprise: time to change course? JAMA 2011;305(6):604-605.

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