An Appraisal of Social Network Theory and Analysis as Applied to Public Health: Challenges and Opportunities

• Published in: Annual review of public health Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 103 - 118
• Main Authors: Valente, Thomas W, Pitts, Stephanie R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Annual Reviews 20-03-2017
• Subjects: Communication; Humans; intervention evaluation; Public Health; social influence; social media; social network analysis; Social Support; intervention evaluation; social influence; social media; social network analysis
• ISSN: 0163-7525; 1545-2093
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031816-044528

The use of social network theory and analysis methods as applied to public health has expanded greatly in the past decade, yielding a significant academic literature that spans almost every conceivable health issue. This review identifies several important theoretical challenges that confront the field but also provides opportunities for new research. These challenges include (
a
) measuring network influences, (
b
) identifying appropriate influence mechanisms, (
c
) the impact of social media and computerized communications, (
d
) the role of networks in evaluating public health interventions, and (
e
) ethics. Next steps for the field are outlined and the need for funding is emphasized. Recently developed network analysis techniques, technological innovations in communication, and changes in theoretical perspectives to include a focus on social and environmental behavioral influences have created opportunities for new theory and ever broader application of social networks to public health topics.