Pub Date : 2025-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2025.12.004
Siyun Peng , Martha Tillson , Maria Rockett , Marisa Booty , Carrie B. Oser
Tie formation has been a core interest of network researchers. However, most existing research on tie formation in prisons has focused on weak ties, assuming that a core network approach is less applicable within total institutions such as prisons. Drawing on egocentric network data from 389 incarcerated individuals and 1352 named network members, this study demonstrates that relationships between incarcerated persons can be examined using a core support network framework. We find that about 20 % of participants include at least one incarcerated peer in their core support networks, with these ties providing both practical and emotional support comparable to that offered by other core support network members. These findings underscore the critical role that peer relationships play in coping with the stresses of incarceration. This study also offers a rare opportunity to test tie formation theories in a total institution context. Specifically, our results support theories of contact opportunities, unmet social needs, and experiential homophily in shaping decisions to include at least one incarcerated peer in core support networks. By examining the dynamics of core support networks during incarceration, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of resilience and trust formation in highly constrained, high-stress environments.
{"title":"Beyond weak ties in prison: An investigation of core support networks of incarcerated persons","authors":"Siyun Peng , Martha Tillson , Maria Rockett , Marisa Booty , Carrie B. Oser","doi":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.12.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tie formation has been a core interest of network researchers. However, most existing research on tie formation in prisons has focused on weak ties, assuming that a core network approach is less applicable within total institutions such as prisons. Drawing on egocentric network data from 389 incarcerated individuals and 1352 named network members, this study demonstrates that relationships between incarcerated persons can be examined using a core support network framework. We find that about 20 % of participants include at least one incarcerated peer in their core support networks, with these ties providing both practical and emotional support comparable to that offered by other core support network members. These findings underscore the critical role that peer relationships play in coping with the stresses of incarceration. This study also offers a rare opportunity to test tie formation theories in a total institution context. Specifically, our results support theories of contact opportunities, unmet social needs, and experiential homophily in shaping decisions to include at least one incarcerated peer in core support networks. By examining the dynamics of core support networks during incarceration, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of resilience and trust formation in highly constrained, high-stress environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48353,"journal":{"name":"Social Networks","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 89-97"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2025.12.001
Martin G. Everett , Stephen P. Borgatti
In this paper, we examine common methods of analyzing network data in which we characterize nodes via categorical attributes. For example, we consider alter composition (counting the number of alters of a given type), alter heterogeneity (measuring the diversity of ego’s alters), homophily (similarity between ego and their alters) and Gould-Fernandez brokerage (assessing how often a node is in a position to broker between different categories). All of these techniques assume that all nodes belong to one and only one category -- i.e., the categorical attribute forms a node partition. However, there are a number of circumstances in which network actors belong to multiple categories. For example a manager might belong to multiple teams or project groups, while a teacher may teach more than one subject. We present a general approach for generalizing measures originally designed for mutually exclusive categories to the case where we have multiple memberships. Instead of a categorical vector, our method assumes a node by category membership matrix that is row-stochastic (e.g., the proportion of effort spent on each of several projects). Multiplying the adjacency matrix by this indicator matrix gives the indirect affinity each node has to each category through its alters. In the special case where each row has a single non-zero value (i.e., 1), the product counts the number of alters in each category, providing a true generalization of existing measures. In addition, we extend Burt’s structural holes measures to not only take into account category membership, but also handle the case of multiple memberships.
{"title":"Alter composition with overlapping group memberships","authors":"Martin G. Everett , Stephen P. Borgatti","doi":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this paper, we examine common methods of analyzing network data in which we characterize nodes via categorical attributes. For example, we consider alter composition (counting the number of alters of a given type), alter heterogeneity (measuring the diversity of ego’s alters), homophily (similarity between ego and their alters) and Gould-Fernandez brokerage (assessing how often a node is in a position to broker between different categories). All of these techniques assume that all nodes belong to one and only one category -- i.e., the categorical attribute forms a node partition. However, there are a number of circumstances in which network actors belong to multiple categories. For example a manager might belong to multiple teams or project groups, while a teacher may teach more than one subject. We present a general approach for generalizing measures originally designed for mutually exclusive categories to the case where we have multiple memberships. Instead of a categorical vector, our method assumes a node by category membership matrix that is row-stochastic (e.g., the proportion of effort spent on each of several projects). Multiplying the adjacency matrix by this indicator matrix gives the indirect affinity each node has to each category through its alters. In the special case where each row has a single non-zero value (i.e., 1), the product counts the number of alters in each category, providing a true generalization of existing measures. In addition, we extend Burt’s structural holes measures to not only take into account category membership, but also handle the case of multiple memberships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48353,"journal":{"name":"Social Networks","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 80-88"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-06DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.003
Bas Hofstra , Thijmen Jeroense , Jochem Tolsma
Open political dialogue is regarded as foundational to democratic health and our social fabric. Here, we study political dialogue by examining with whom we prefer to talk about politics and why. In so doing, we develop and test hypotheses about what random encounters (e.g., meeting similar versus dissimilar others, meeting friends or colleagues) foster political dialogue, pose and test conjectures about what features of extended networks facilitate political debate, and present a new unique factorial survey experiment to answer our questions. We incorporated this factorial survey experiment within the NEtherlands Longitudinal Lifecourse Study 2022 (NELLS) and presented to a large sample of Dutch citizens – including Dutch ethnic majority members as well as minoritized Dutch with a Turkish or Moroccan heritage – a choice to engage in political talk or not. Hierarchical linear models reveal that relationship strength, rather than identity similarity (e.g., gender, ethnic), is the primary driver of opting for political dialogue. However, in encounters lacking prior relationship history, gender similarity increases the willingness to engage, and similar political views do relate to engaging in substantive debate modeled dichotomously. Ethnic diversity within extended networks fosters political discussion, while network size has a nonlinear association – medium-sized networks are more conducive to dialogue than very small or very large ones. These findings contribute to debates on political polarization by highlighting the relational conditions that encourage political exchange.
{"title":"The impact of dyads and extended networks on political talk: A factorial survey experiment in the Netherlands","authors":"Bas Hofstra , Thijmen Jeroense , Jochem Tolsma","doi":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Open political dialogue is regarded as foundational to democratic health and our social fabric. Here, we study political dialogue by examining with whom we prefer to talk about politics and why. In so doing, we develop and test hypotheses about what random encounters (e.g., meeting similar versus dissimilar others, meeting friends or colleagues) foster political dialogue, pose and test conjectures about what features of extended networks facilitate political debate, and present a new unique factorial survey experiment to answer our questions. We incorporated this factorial survey experiment within the NEtherlands Longitudinal Lifecourse Study 2022 (NELLS) and presented to a large sample of Dutch citizens – including Dutch ethnic majority members as well as minoritized Dutch with a Turkish or Moroccan heritage – a choice to engage in political talk or not. Hierarchical linear models reveal that relationship strength, rather than identity similarity (e.g., gender, ethnic), is the primary driver of opting for political dialogue. However, in encounters lacking prior relationship history, gender similarity increases the willingness to engage, and similar political views do relate to engaging in substantive debate modeled dichotomously. Ethnic diversity within extended networks fosters political discussion, while network size has a nonlinear association – medium-sized networks are more conducive to dialogue than very small or very large ones. These findings contribute to debates on political polarization by highlighting the relational conditions that encourage political exchange.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48353,"journal":{"name":"Social Networks","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 66-79"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2025.12.002
Obed Jones Owusu-Sarpong , Kabila Abass , Solomon Osei-Tutu , Armstrong Francis Tumawu , Razak M. Gyasi
Background
This study examines the association between social network connectivity and food insecurity among single parents in Ghana, and explores the modifying roles of age, sex, and spatial differences.
Methods
Data were collected from 627 single parents selected through a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. Social networks were evaluated using the Lubben Social Network Scale - 6 Item Version (LSNS-6). Food insecurity was assessed using the FIES Scale. Hierarchical multivariable linear regression models and interaction analyses were performed to evaluate the hypothesized associations.
Results
The mean age (SD) was 45.0 (14.7) years, and 67.3 % were females. After full adjustment, greater social network connectivity was significantly associated with lower food insecurity (B = −.093,p < 0.001). Age (B= −.002, p < 0.01) and spatial variations (B=.047, p < 0.05) moderated this association. Additionally, we observed significant negative associations of the social networks of relatives (B=-.105, p < 0.001) and of friends (B=.073, p < 0.01) with food insecurity
Conclusions
Social network connectivity was negatively associated with food insecurity, and this association was stronger among young adults and urban residents. Efforts for targeted interventions for single parents, in building resilient social network connectivity may provide a safety net in times of need.
本研究考察了加纳单亲家庭的社交网络连通性与粮食不安全之间的关系，并探讨了年龄、性别和空间差异的调节作用。方法采用多阶段分层抽样方法，对627名单亲家长进行调查。使用Lubben社会网络量表-6项版本（LSNS-6）对社会网络进行评估。粮食不安全状况采用FIES量表进行评估。采用分层多变量线性回归模型和相互作用分析来评估假设的关联。结果平均年龄（SD）为45.0（14.7）岁，女性占67.3% 。充分调整后，更大的社会网络连通性与更低的粮食不安全显著相关（B = - 0.093,p <； 0.001）。年龄(B=−。002, p <； 0.01)和空间差异（B= 0.047, p <； 0.05）调节了这种关联。此外，我们观察到亲属（B=- 0.105, p <； 0.001）和朋友（B= 0.073, p <； 0.01）的社会网络与食品不安全之间存在显著的负相关关系。结论：社会网络连接与食品不安全之间存在负相关关系，这种关联在年轻人和城市居民中更为强烈。努力为单亲父母提供有针对性的干预措施，建立有弹性的社会网络连接，可以在需要时提供安全网。
{"title":"Social network connectivity and food insecurity among single parents: Findings from a representative survey in Ghana","authors":"Obed Jones Owusu-Sarpong , Kabila Abass , Solomon Osei-Tutu , Armstrong Francis Tumawu , Razak M. Gyasi","doi":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study examines the association between social network connectivity and food insecurity among single parents in Ghana, and explores the modifying roles of age, sex, and spatial differences.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data were collected from 627 single parents selected through a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. Social networks were evaluated using the Lubben Social Network Scale - 6 Item Version (LSNS-6). Food insecurity was assessed using the FIES Scale. Hierarchical multivariable linear regression models and interaction analyses were performed to evaluate the hypothesized associations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The mean age (SD) was 45.0 (14.7) years, and 67.3 % were females. After full adjustment, greater social network connectivity was significantly associated with lower food insecurity (B = −.093,<em>p</em> < 0.001). Age (B= −.002, <em>p</em> < 0.01) and spatial variations (B=.047, <em>p</em> < 0.05) moderated this association. Additionally, we observed significant negative associations of the social networks of relatives (B=-.105, <em>p</em> < 0.001) and of friends (B=.073, <em>p</em> < 0.01) with food insecurity</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Social network connectivity was negatively associated with food insecurity, and this association was stronger among young adults and urban residents. Efforts for targeted interventions for single parents, in building resilient social network connectivity may provide a safety net in times of need.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48353,"journal":{"name":"Social Networks","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 57-65"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-29DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.006
Lea Ellwardt , Theo G. van Tilburg
Objectives
Theorizations of social exchanges often assume that people prefer interactions with supportive others but avoid others they perceive as demanding or difficult. Yet, many social relationships are ambivalent, i.e., entail a combination of positive and negative interactions. We refer to difficult relationships as ties with an equal and high share of both elements or ties where the net balance of these two elements is outweighed by negativity. This study inquires how many difficult relationships prevail in the personal network in late life and where they originate.
Methods
Survey data are from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) on egocentric networks. The sample comprised 892 respondents (mean age 73; range 61–100) and their 4273 network members. Models consist of mixed effects and logistic regressions for explaining difficulty on the relationship level and the network level.
Results
We found that 15 % of older adults engage in difficult relationships. The difficulty was most often found in involuntary relationships (with siblings, parents, neighbors), and relationships characterized by low receipt but high provision of emotional support, and high volatility. The difficulty in a personal network was more likely for older adults embedded in instable networks and networks that yielded difficult relationships among members in their network.
Discussion
People may face structural constraints that pressure them to continue engaging socially with others, even if they sometimes find them to be difficult. Research should take these ties seriously, as negative ties may bother more than positive ties benefit older adults.
{"title":"The ties that bother: Difficult relationships in the personal networks of older adults","authors":"Lea Ellwardt , Theo G. van Tilburg","doi":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Theorizations of social exchanges often assume that people prefer interactions with supportive others but avoid others they perceive as demanding or difficult. Yet, many social relationships are ambivalent, i.e., entail a combination of positive and negative interactions. We refer to difficult relationships as ties with an equal and high share of both elements or ties where the net balance of these two elements is outweighed by negativity. This study inquires how many difficult relationships prevail in the personal network in late life and where they originate.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Survey data are from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) on egocentric networks. The sample comprised 892 respondents (mean age 73; range 61–100) and their 4273 network members. Models consist of mixed effects and logistic regressions for explaining difficulty on the relationship level and the network level.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We found that 15 % of older adults engage in difficult relationships. The difficulty was most often found in involuntary relationships (with siblings, parents, neighbors), and relationships characterized by low receipt but high provision of emotional support, and high volatility. The difficulty in a personal network was more likely for older adults embedded in instable networks and networks that yielded difficult relationships among members in their network.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>People may face structural constraints that pressure them to continue engaging socially with others, even if they sometimes find them to be difficult. Research should take these ties seriously, as negative ties may bother more than positive ties benefit older adults.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48353,"journal":{"name":"Social Networks","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 47-56"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Community interventions increasingly leverage Social Network Analysis (SNA) both to understand relational patterns and to facilitate structural changes within networks. Indeed, SNA serves not only as an analytical tool but also as a catalyst for reflection and change. Although SNA has been widely used as an intervention tool, its application in cross-national contexts remains underexplored. This study aims to address this research gap by investigating how SNA can contribute to cross-national community interventions. We use a case study approach based on a longitudinal analysis of the Assistance and Legal Program for Emigrant Support (ALPES) network, a cross-national project established at the Italian-French border. In this project, SNA has been used both as a diagnostic tool to map the information exchange network of third-sector organizations and as a strategic intervention strategy that produced behavioral changes in these organizations. Our results show that SNA functioned as both a translational monitoring tool and a catalytic intervention: network visualization prompted organizations to strategically alter their collaborative patterns and address structural gaps in migrant support services across borders. This demonstrates how network feedback processes can enhance inter-organizational collaboration in complex cross-national contexts.
{"title":"From mapping to action: Social network analysis as a strategic tool in cross-national community interventions","authors":"Giorgia Trasciani , Stefano Ghinoi , Guido Conaldi","doi":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Community interventions increasingly leverage Social Network Analysis (SNA) both to understand relational patterns and to facilitate structural changes within networks. Indeed, SNA serves not only as an analytical tool but also as a catalyst for reflection and change. Although SNA has been widely used as an intervention tool, its application in cross-national contexts remains underexplored. This study aims to address this research gap by investigating how SNA can contribute to cross-national community interventions. We use a case study approach based on a longitudinal analysis of the Assistance and Legal Program for Emigrant Support (ALPES) network, a cross-national project established at the Italian-French border. In this project, SNA has been used both as a diagnostic tool to map the information exchange network of third-sector organizations and as a strategic intervention strategy that produced behavioral changes in these organizations. Our results show that SNA functioned as both a translational monitoring tool and a catalytic intervention: network visualization prompted organizations to strategically alter their collaborative patterns and address structural gaps in migrant support services across borders. This demonstrates how network feedback processes can enhance inter-organizational collaboration in complex cross-national contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48353,"journal":{"name":"Social Networks","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 35-46"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145616710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-22DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.004
Shuyue Zhang , Linlin Lei , Lilan Liu , Shijiang Zuo
Structural features of social networks could influence interpersonal interactions, yet few studies have examined their link to social exclusion. This research investigated how relational mobility affects social exclusion behavior, with social participation intention as a mediator. We first developed the Social Exclusion Behavior Scale and demonstrated its reliability and validity in Study 1a (N = 1275). Using this scale, Study 1b (N = 650) found that relational mobility was negatively correlated with social exclusion behavior, and social participation intention played a mediating role. Study 2 (N = 209) manipulated relational mobility to clarify causal relationship and found that participants in the high-mobility group (vs. low-mobility) exhibited stronger social participation intentions and subsequently engaged in less social exclusion behavior. These findings identify relational mobility as a key structural feature of social networks influencing social exclusion behavior, clarify its underlying mechanism, and offer practical insights for interventions aimed at reducing social exclusion behavior.
{"title":"The influence of relational mobility on social exclusion behavior: The mediating role of social participation intention","authors":"Shuyue Zhang , Linlin Lei , Lilan Liu , Shijiang Zuo","doi":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Structural features of social networks could influence interpersonal interactions, yet few studies have examined their link to social exclusion. This research investigated how relational mobility affects social exclusion behavior, with social participation intention as a mediator. We first developed the Social Exclusion Behavior Scale and demonstrated its reliability and validity in Study 1a (<em>N</em> = 1275). Using this scale, Study 1b (<em>N</em> = 650) found that relational mobility was negatively correlated with social exclusion behavior, and social participation intention played a mediating role. Study 2 (<em>N</em> = 209) manipulated relational mobility to clarify causal relationship and found that participants in the high-mobility group (vs. low-mobility) exhibited stronger social participation intentions and subsequently engaged in less social exclusion behavior. These findings identify relational mobility as a key structural feature of social networks influencing social exclusion behavior, clarify its underlying mechanism, and offer practical insights for interventions aimed at reducing social exclusion behavior.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48353,"journal":{"name":"Social Networks","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 24-34"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145571193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-22DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.002
Isidro Maya-Jariego, Francisco J. Santolaya, Pablo Pastor-Alcayde
A neighborhood's psychological sense of community is shaped by residents’ rootedness and their participation in everyday activities such as walking or using green spaces. Having children, owning a home, or walking a dog are often positively associated with a stronger sense of belonging to the local environment. However, the social foundations of the subjective experience of belonging and emotional connection to one’s neighborhood remain underexplored. Moreover, relatively few empirical studies have examined multiple senses of community simultaneously. This study analyzes the relationship between the structural characteristics of personal networks and the psychological sense of community among residents of four neighborhoods in the historic center and one in the urban periphery of Seville, in southern Spain. In each case, we also compare the sense of belonging to the neighborhood and to the city. The community survey included 430 residents. Personal networks characterized by higher fragmentation and greater homophily were more common in the peripheral neighborhood, where residents also reported a comparatively lower sense of community than in the historic center. However, the strongest predictors of neighborhood- and city-level belonging were comparative perceived well-being, length of residence in the neighborhood, and the number of neighborhoods in which respondents had previously lived.
{"title":"Multiple senses of community in central and peripheral neighborhoods of seville: The fragmentation of personal networks in social housing estates","authors":"Isidro Maya-Jariego, Francisco J. Santolaya, Pablo Pastor-Alcayde","doi":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A neighborhood's psychological sense of community is shaped by residents’ rootedness and their participation in everyday activities such as walking or using green spaces. Having children, owning a home, or walking a dog are often positively associated with a stronger sense of belonging to the local environment. However, the social foundations of the subjective experience of belonging and emotional connection to one’s neighborhood remain underexplored. Moreover, relatively few empirical studies have examined multiple senses of community simultaneously. This study analyzes the relationship between the structural characteristics of personal networks and the psychological sense of community among residents of four neighborhoods in the historic center and one in the urban periphery of Seville, in southern Spain. In each case, we also compare the sense of belonging to the neighborhood and to the city. The community survey included 430 residents. Personal networks characterized by higher fragmentation and greater homophily were more common in the peripheral neighborhood, where residents also reported a comparatively lower sense of community than in the historic center. However, the strongest predictors of neighborhood- and city-level belonging were comparative perceived well-being, length of residence in the neighborhood, and the number of neighborhoods in which respondents had previously lived.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48353,"journal":{"name":"Social Networks","volume":"85 ","pages":"Pages 13-23"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145571194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2025.11.001
Minheng Chen , Yang-chih Fu , Xin Guo , Qiang Fu
The estimation and measurement of the size of egocentric networks have sparked vigorous discussion and debate. Drawing on datasets from the Taiwan Social Change Survey, this study explores methodological issues pertaining to the change of core networks in Taiwan from 1997 to 2017 via a modified Poisson mixture approach, assesses the efficiency of name generators as a survey instrument via Fisher Information Maximizer, and investigates the role of social desirability in reporting core networks. Net of other effects, the study finds that individuals expressing a strong sense of social desirability report significantly fewer close contacts and face a higher risk of social isolation. Name generators in this study are associated with trivial design errors and can yield estimates comparable to those produced by exact enumeration. These findings are situated in the drastic changes in face-to-face survey interviews as well as the cultural context of Taiwan and, more broadly, East Asia. They call for further research inquiries into methodological issues regarding measuring and estimating egocentric networks in a transnational and modern setting.
对自我中心网络大小的估计和测量引发了激烈的讨论和争论。本研究以台湾社会变迁调查资料为基础，运用修正的泊松混合方法，探讨1997 - 2017年台湾核心网路变迁的方法问题，运用Fisher Information Maximizer评估名称生成器作为调查工具的效率，并探讨社会期望度在核心网路报告中的作用。考虑到其他影响，研究发现，表现出强烈的社会渴望感的个人报告的亲密接触明显减少，面临更高的社会孤立风险。本研究中的名称生成器与微不足道的设计错误有关，并且可以产生与精确枚举产生的结果相当的估计。这些发现是基于面对面调查访谈的剧烈变化，以及台湾乃至更广泛的东亚的文化背景。他们呼吁对在跨国和现代环境中测量和估计自我中心网络的方法问题进行进一步的研究和调查。
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Pub Date : 2025-11-06DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2025.10.003
Julie Riddell , Srebrenka Letina , Kathryn Skivington , Daniel Archambault , Valerie Wells , Emily Long , Ruth Hunter , Mark McCann , the MINI team
The methods used to study and intervene in networks have evolved over the past 90 years. Network research has gained strength from being an interdisciplinary field, but this has also meant that the innovations occurring within some disciplinary communities may not have disseminated to others. Disciplines focussing on health improvement may not have adopted innovations coming from other disciplines relevant to network science. Through a review of the literature, we focus on the key aspects which can inform community-based networks and health improvement (NHI) projects. The review aims to draw these innovations together to understand the range of methods currently available for NHI research and practice. We conducted a narrative synthesis of published literature that may be relevant for NHI projects, synthesising existing work on methods of network data collection, visualisation and intervention approaches.
Searches were conducted between the 8–11th January 2021, within the following databases; ACM Digital Library, EconLIt, ERIC, IEEE Explore, Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus, Social Sciences Citation Index and Sociological Abstracts. The expert community was also consulted to identify relevant research. Searches focused English language papers relating to methods for data collection, visualisation, and implementing interventions, but not statistical analysis. The search was not restricted to studies applied to health.
We used a systemic review methodology to identify peer-reviewed articles that met pre-defined inclusion criteria. Data extraction was restricted to 84 papers published since 2018, of which some were included within more than one category (Network Data collection N = 41, Network Visualisation N = 32, Network Intervention N = 30).
Analysis uncovered a diverse range of approaches to collecting, visualising and interventions using network data, and based on the included studies (rather than existing typologies) we developed a preliminary threefold typology of network and health improvement methods. We found nine types of network visualisation, eight types of data collection, and six types of network intervention approaches. Data visualisations commonly used node-link (circle-line) diagrams to visualise networks whilst key player interventions mostly used whole network data collection, and interventions using personal reflections of networks mostly used egonets. Visualisation was a feature of eight out of 30 intervention papers. Evaluation of the network methods was highly variable.
Our findings suggest potential areas for future methodological research around the use of network methods in community interventions, we propose further integration of data collection and visualisation approaches as part of intervention design, and encourage the network intervention community to integrate methods testing as part of their project to improve the evidence base for network methodology.
{"title":"Methods for interventions using networks to improve health: A narrative synthesis of methodological research on network data collection, visualisation and intervention","authors":"Julie Riddell , Srebrenka Letina , Kathryn Skivington , Daniel Archambault , Valerie Wells , Emily Long , Ruth Hunter , Mark McCann , the MINI team","doi":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.10.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.socnet.2025.10.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The methods used to study and intervene in networks have evolved over the past 90 years. Network research has gained strength from being an interdisciplinary field, but this has also meant that the innovations occurring within some disciplinary communities may not have disseminated to others. Disciplines focussing on health improvement may not have adopted innovations coming from other disciplines relevant to network science. Through a review of the literature, we focus on the key aspects which can inform community-based networks and health improvement (NHI) projects. The review aims to draw these innovations together to understand the range of methods currently available for NHI research and practice. We conducted a narrative synthesis of published literature that may be relevant for NHI projects, synthesising existing work on methods of network data collection, visualisation and intervention approaches.</div><div>Searches were conducted between the 8–11th January 2021, within the following databases; ACM Digital Library, EconLIt, ERIC, IEEE Explore, Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus, Social Sciences Citation Index and Sociological Abstracts. The expert community was also consulted to identify relevant research. Searches focused English language papers relating to methods for data collection, visualisation, and implementing interventions, but not statistical analysis. The search was not restricted to studies applied to health.</div><div>We used a systemic review methodology to identify peer-reviewed articles that met pre-defined inclusion criteria. Data extraction was restricted to 84 papers published since 2018, of which some were included within more than one category (Network Data collection N = 41, Network Visualisation N = 32, Network Intervention N = 30).</div><div>Analysis uncovered a diverse range of approaches to collecting, visualising and interventions using network data, and based on the included studies (rather than existing typologies) we developed a preliminary threefold typology of network and health improvement methods. We found nine types of network visualisation, eight types of data collection, and six types of network intervention approaches. Data visualisations commonly used node-link (circle-line) diagrams to visualise networks whilst key player interventions mostly used whole network data collection, and interventions using personal reflections of networks mostly used egonets. Visualisation was a feature of eight out of 30 intervention papers. Evaluation of the network methods was highly variable.</div><div>Our findings suggest potential areas for future methodological research around the use of network methods in community interventions, we propose further integration of data collection and visualisation approaches as part of intervention design, and encourage the network intervention community to integrate methods testing as part of their project to improve the evidence base for network methodology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48353,"journal":{"name":"Social Networks","volume":"84 ","pages":"Pages 202-219"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145465537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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