The Relation between Sociometric Choices and Group Cohesion

Salo, Mikael

doi:10.21236/ada460549

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…It is due to the small sample size that we did not correlate network measures and self-reported cohesion. To the best of our knowledge, only one paper examines the relationship between social network metrics and perceived group cohesion [ 37 ]. That study showed that individual sociometric choices and group-level sociometric cohesiveness had moderate, significant positive correlations to self-reported cohesion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social network diagnostics: a tool for monitoring group interventions

2013

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BackgroundMany behavioral interventions designed to improve health outcomes are delivered in group settings. To date, however, group interventions have not been evaluated to determine if the groups generate interaction among members and how changes in group interaction may affect program outcomes at the individual or group level.MethodsThis article presents a model and practical tool for monitoring how social ties and social structure are changing within the group during program implementation. The approach is based on social network analysis and has two phases: collecting network measurements at strategic intervention points to determine if group dynamics are evolving in ways anticipated by the intervention, and providing the results back to the group leader to guide implementation next steps. This process aims to initially increase network connectivity and ultimately accelerate the diffusion of desirable behaviors through the new network. This article presents the Social Network Diagnostic Tool and, as proof of concept, pilot data collected during the formative phase of a childhood obesity intervention.ResultsThe number of reported advice partners and discussion partners increased during program implementation. Density, the number of ties among people in the network expressed as a percentage of all possible ties, increased from 0.082 to 0.182 (p < 0.05) in the advice network, and from 0.027 to 0.055 (p > 0.05) in the discussion network.ConclusionsThe observed two-fold increase in network density represents a significant shift in advice partners over the intervention period. Using the Social Network Tool to empirically guide program activities of an obesity intervention was feasible.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social network diagnostics: a tool for monitoring group interventions

2013

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“…Participants worked toward a common goals (e.g., planning an event for family and friends). Leadership roles were rotated through the group to increase perceptions of group cohesion . At each session, the facilitator intentionally reenforced the group's identity as a support network for improving health.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leadership roles were rotated through the group to increase perceptions of group cohesion. 25 At each session, the facilitator intentionally reenforced the group's identity as a support network for improving health. Each session included practicing social skills necessary for building and strengthening positive support among family and friends for healthy living (e.g., identifying the sources and types of support for prenatal health that participants currently had, identifying gaps in their support networks, articulating the benefits and attributes of supportive relationships, practicing how to build new and tend to supportive relationships).…”

Section: Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Impact of De Novo Social Ties within Health Intervention Settings: New Questions for Health Behavior Intervention Research

Tesdahl

Gesell²

2015

Clinical Translational Sci

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Recent developments in the study of health and social networks have focused on linkages between health outcomes and naturally-occurring social relations, such as friendship or kinship. Based on findings in this area, a new generation of health behavior intervention programs have been implemented that rely on the formation of new social relations among program participants. However, little is known about the qualities of these de novo social relations. We examined the social networks of 59 participants within a randomized controlled trial of an intervention designed to prevent excessive gestational weight gain. We employed exponential random graph modeling techniques to analyze supportive relationships formed between participants in the intervention arm, to detect unique effects of program participation on the likelihood of forming ties. Program participation had a positive effect on the likelihood of forming supportive social relations, however, in this particular timeframe we did not detect any additional effect of such relations on the health behaviors or outcomes of interest. Our findings raise two critical questions: do short-term group-level programs reliably lead to the formation of new social relations among participants; and do these relations have a unique effect on health outcomes relative to standard methods of health behavior intervention?

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“…At each session, participants were assigned small group activities to practice the skills they needed to apply the information taught (e.g., how to choose appropriate portion sizes; how to be active with children; how to monitor screen time). Leadership roles were rotated through the group with the intention of increasing perceptions of group cohesion [ 30 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Social Networks That Form within the Context of an Obesity Prevention Intervention

2012

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Background. Antiobesity interventions have generally failed. Research now suggests that interventions must be informed by an understanding of the social environment. Objective. To examine if new social networks form between families participating in a group-level pediatric obesity prevention trial. Methods. Latino parent-preschool child dyads (N = 79) completed the 3-month trial. The intervention met weekly in consistent groups to practice healthy lifestyles. The control met monthly in inconsistent groups to learn about school readiness. UCINET and SIENA were used to examine network dynamics. Results. Children's mean age was 4.2 years (SD = 0.9), and 44% were overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 85th percentile). Parents were predominantly mothers (97%), with a mean age of 31.4 years (SD = 5.4), and 81% were overweight/obese (BMI ≥ 25). Over the study, a new social network evolved among participating families. Parents selectively formed friendship ties based on child BMI z-score, (t = 2.08; P < .05). This reveals the tendency for mothers to form new friendships with mothers whose children have similar body types. Discussion. Participating in a group-level intervention resulted in new social network formation. New ties were greatest with mothers who had children of similar body types. This finding might contribute to the known inability of parents to recognize child overweight.

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The Relation between Sociometric Choices and Group Cohesion

Cited by 6 publications

References 32 publications

Social network diagnostics: a tool for monitoring group interventions

Social network diagnostics: a tool for monitoring group interventions

Assessing the Impact of De Novo Social Ties within Health Intervention Settings: New Questions for Health Behavior Intervention Research

Understanding the Social Networks That Form within the Context of an Obesity Prevention Intervention

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