“Hidden” Social Networks in Behavior Change Interventions

Hunter, Ruth F.; McAneney, Helen; Davis, Michael; Tully, Mark A.; Valente, Thomas W.; Kee, Frank

doi:10.2105/ajph.2014.302399

Cited by 56 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Social norms—the standards of behaviour that are considered acceptable or appealing in a group or society—are also important for walking. Yet seldom are these networks or norms taken into account when promoting walking behaviour, and they are subsequently underutilised in our interventions 2. Promoting walking to individuals without considering these social constructs inherent in ‘social settings’ (such as schools, workplaces, parks, neighbourhoods, streets and public spaces) may risk missing opportunities to more effectively produce behaviour change or maintained behaviour change.…”

Section: Walking Is a Social Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socially awkward: how can we better promote walking as a social behaviour?

2018

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Section: Walking Is a Social Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socially awkward: how can we better promote walking as a social behaviour?

2018

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“…Information on network structure and stability may be useful to model and control contamination due to social diffusion. 49 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Network Assessments and Interventions for Health Behavior Change: A Critical Review

Latkin

Knowlton

2015

Behavioral Medicine

289

200

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Social networks provide a powerful approach for health behavior change. This article documents how social network interventions have been successfully utilized for a range of health behaviors including HIV risk practices, smoking, exercise, dieting, family planning, bullying, and mental health. We review the literature that suggests relationship between health behaviors and social network attributes demonstrate a high degree of specificity. The article then examines hypothesized social influence mechanisms including social norms, modeling, and social rewards and the factors of social identity and social rewards that can be employed to sustain social network interventions. Areas of future research avenues are highlighted, including the need to examine and analytically adjust for contamination and social diffusion, social influence versus differential affiliation, and network change. Use and integration of mhealth and face-to-face networks for promoting health behavior change are also critical research areas.

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“…Therefore, we plan to prospectively evaluate our research processes at every phase. Furthermore, although the randomized study design is optimal, it carries a risk of indirect intervention dissemination to the control group through social networks among these cohesive communities in a single small city, a phenomena common to behavior-change interventions (79). Finally, although data analysts were blinded to treatment conditions, it was not practical to maintain blinding for the study team members with direct participant contact.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Healthy immigrant families: Participatory development and baseline characteristics of a community-based physical activity and nutrition intervention

Wieland

Weis

Hanza

et al. 2016

Contemporary Clinical Trials

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Background US immigrants often have escalating cardiovascular risk. Barriers to optimal physical activity and diet have a significant role in this risk accumulation. Methods We developed a physical activity and nutrition intervention with immigrant and refugee families through a community-based participatory research approach. Work groups of community members and health scientists developed an intervention manual with 12 content modules that were based on social-learning theory. Family health promoters from the participating communities (Hispanic, Somali, Sudanese) were trained to deliver the intervention through 12 home visits during the first 6 months and up to 12 phone calls during the second 6 months. The intervention was tested through a randomized community-based trial with a delayed-intervention control group, with measurements at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months. Primary measurements included accelerometer-based assessment of physical activity and 24-hour dietary recall. Secondary measures included biometrics and theory-based instruments. Results One hundred fifty-one individuals (81 adolescents, 70 adults; 44 families) were randomized. At baseline, mean (SD) time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was 64.7 (30.2) minutes/day for adolescents and 43.1 (35.4) minutes/day for adults. Moderate dietary quality was observed in both age groups. Biometric measures showed that 45.7% of adolescents and 80.0% of adults were overweight or obese. Moderate levels of self-efficacy and social support were reported for physical activity and nutrition. Discussion Processes and products from this program are relevant to other communities aiming to reduce cardiovascular risk and negative health behaviors among immigrants and refugees. Trial Registration This trial was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01952808).

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“Hidden” Social Networks in Behavior Change Interventions

Cited by 56 publications

References 23 publications

Socially awkward: how can we better promote walking as a social behaviour?

Socially awkward: how can we better promote walking as a social behaviour?

Social Network Assessments and Interventions for Health Behavior Change: A Critical Review

Healthy immigrant families: Participatory development and baseline characteristics of a community-based physical activity and nutrition intervention

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