Short-term and long-term effects of a social network intervention on friendships among university students

Abstract

Informal social relations, such as friendships, are crucial for the well-being and success of students at all levels of education. Network interventions can aim at providing contact opportunities in school settings to prevent the social isolation of individuals and facilitate integration between otherwise segregated social groups. We investigate the short-term and long-term effects of one specific network intervention in an undergraduate cohort freshly admitted to an engineering department (N = 226). In this intervention, we randomly assigned students into small groups at an introduction event two months prior to their first day at university. The groups were designed to increase mixed-gender contact opportunities. Two months after the intervention, we find a higher rate of friendships, common friends, and mixed-gender friendships in pairs of students who were assigned to the same group than in pairs from different groups (short-term effects). These effects gradually diminish over the first academic year (long-term effects). Using stochastic actor-oriented models, we investigate the long-term trajectory of the intervention effects, while considering alternative network processes, such as reciprocity, transitivity, homophily, and popularity. The results suggest that even though the induced friendship ties are less stable than other friendships, they may serve as early seeds for complex social network processes. Our study shows that simple network interventions can have a pronounced short-term effect and indirect long-term effects on the evolution and structure of student communities.

Students under lockdown: Comparisons of students’ social networks and mental health before and during the COVID-19 crisis in Switzerland

“…If this is not possible in-person due to COVID-19 constraints, university managers and teachers should consider the development of online events and the use of online platforms to support the development of social ties between students. Friendship, interaction, social support, and studying with others have been argued to impact their well-being and academic success, but they often require meeting opportunities and informal settings to develop [5,13].…”

“…In times of crisis, social support may be more important than ever. But at the same time, physical proximity and opportunities for interaction are important in developing and fostering social ties [ 11 – 13 ]. As face-to-face interactions and random encounters are minimized due to the social distancing measures, it is likely that individuals focus on those relationships that are spatially close, most meaningful, or most established.…”

How academic achievement spreads: The role of distinct social networks in academic performance diffusion

“…First, we analyze social networks of first-year students. This time frame, when students start their educational path at an undergraduate level, receives a lot of attention in the literature [ 17 , 19 , 42 ] due to the fast speed of social tie formation. At the same time, it would be beneficial to investigate the diffusion of academic achievements through social networks along the full period of studies.…”

Networks and Emotions in Cooperative Work: A Quasi-Experimental Study in University Nursing and Computer Engineering Students

“…After the intervention, a higher rate of friendship between students assigned to the same working group than between pairs of students who were not, was detected. However, these effects gradually diminished as the academic year progressed, since, as they were induced relationships, they had less stability [47].…”