IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/socmed/v272y2021ics0277953621000964.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Co-evolution of online social networks and syphilis incidence among young black men who have sex with men

Author

Listed:
  • Young, Lindsay E.
  • Fujimoto, Kayo

Abstract

Network contexts have been implicated in the facilitation of syphilis transmission, however little is known about the relationship between online social networks, a proxy for physical networks, and rates of syphilis infection and how they co-evolve over time. To these ends, this study explored the interdependent relationship between Facebook friendship network dynamics and rates of syphilis incidence among young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM). Specifically, we investigated the extent to which syphilis status, as a latent profile of network members, serves as a selection mechanism of Facebook tie formation and the degree to which Facebook friendships influenced dynamics of syphilis seroconversion. Sexual health, behavioral, and social network data were collected from a cohort of YBMSM (N = 286, Mean age = 22.8) at two time points between 2013 and 2015 in Chicago, IL, USA. The interdependencies between Facebook friendship networks and syphilis infection were assessed using stochastic actor-based models for social networks and behavior. Results showed that YBMSM tended to form Facebook friendships with other YBMSM who had similar syphilis and HIV status profiles, and the hazard of contracting syphilis was likewise influenced by their Facebook friendships, albeit subtly, by being connected to infectious network members. Meanwhile, intrinsic characteristics like condomless sex, HIV status, and online partner-seeking were not associated with dynamics in syphilis incidence. These findings show that there is a mutually dependent relationship between the online network dynamics of YBMSM and rates of syphilis incidence. Findings also direct attention to network-based strategies for intervention.

Suggested Citation

  • Young, Lindsay E. & Fujimoto, Kayo, 2021. "The Co-evolution of online social networks and syphilis incidence among young black men who have sex with men," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:272:y:2021:i:c:s0277953621000964
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113764
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953621000964
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113764?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Schaefer, David R. & Adams, Jimi, 2017. "The coevolution of networks and health," Network Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 5(3), pages 249-256, September.
    2. Fujimoto, K. & Wang, P. & Ross, M.W. & Williams, M.L., 2015. "Venue-mediated weak ties in multiplex HIV transmission risk networks among drug-using male sex workers and associates," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(6), pages 1128-1135.
    3. de la Haye, Kayla & Robins, Garry & Mohr, Philip & Wilson, Carlene, 2011. "How physical activity shapes, and is shaped by, adolescent friendships," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(5), pages 719-728, September.
    4. Rhodes, Tim & Singer, Merrill & Bourgois, Philippe & Friedman, Samuel R. & Strathdee, Steffanie A., 2005. "The social structural production of HIV risk among injecting drug users," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(5), pages 1026-1044, September.
    5. Charlotte C. Greenan, 2015. "Diffusion of innovations in dynamic networks," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 178(1), pages 147-166, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shelton, Rachel C. & Lee, Matthew & Brotzman, Laura E. & Crookes, Danielle M. & Jandorf, Lina & Erwin, Deborah & Gage-Bouchard, Elizabeth A., 2019. "Use of social network analysis in the development, dissemination, implementation, and sustainability of health behavior interventions for adults: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 81-101.
    2. HangUk Cheon, 2021. "The Structural Relationship between Exercise Frequency, Social Health, and Happiness in Adolescents," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Biradavolu, Monica Rao & Burris, Scott & George, Annie & Jena, Asima & Blankenship, Kim M., 2009. "Can sex workers regulate police? Learning from an HIV prevention project for sex workers in southern India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(8), pages 1541-1547, April.
    4. Pronyk, Paul M. & Harpham, Trudy & Morison, Linda A. & Hargreaves, James R. & Kim, Julia C. & Phetla, Godfrey & Watts, Charlotte H. & Porter, John D., 2008. "Is social capital associated with HIV risk in rural South Africa?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(9), pages 1999-2010, May.
    5. Prochnow, Tyler & Patterson, Megan S. & Hartnell, Logan & West, Geoffrey & Umstattd Meyer, M. Renée, 2021. "Implications of race and ethnicity for child physical activity and social connections at summer care programs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    6. Dutta, Amitava & Puvvala, Abhinay & Roy, Rahul & Seetharaman, Priya, 2017. "Technology diffusion: Shift happens — The case of iOS and Android handsets," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 28-43.
    7. Kai Chen & Xiaoping Lin & Han Wang & Yujie Qiang & Jie Kong & Rui Huang & Haining Wang & Hui Liu, 2022. "Visualizing the Knowledge Base and Research Hotspot of Public Health Emergency Management: A Science Mapping Analysis-Based Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, June.
    8. Alexis N. Martinez & Lee R. Mobley & Jennifer Lorvick & Scott P. Novak & Andrea M. Lopez & Alex H. Kral, 2014. "Spatial Analysis of HIV Positive Injection Drug Users in San Francisco, 1987 to 2005," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, April.
    9. Sherman, Susan G. & Lilleston, Pamela & Reuben, Jacqueline, 2011. "More than a dance: The production of sexual health risk in the exotic dance clubs in Baltimore, USA," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(3), pages 475-481, August.
    10. Dickson-Gomez, Julia & Corbett, A. Michelle & Bodnar, Gloria & Rodriguez, Karla & Guevara, Carmen E., 2010. "Resources and obstacles to developing and implementing a structural intervention to prevent HIV in San Salvador, El Salvador," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(3), pages 351-359, February.
    11. McMillan, Cassie & Schaefer, David R., 2021. "Comparing targeting strategies for network-based adolescent drinking interventions: A simulation approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    12. Brewis, Alexandra & Wutich, Amber & Galvin, Michael & Lachaud, James, 2022. "Localizing syndemics: A comparative study of hunger, stigma, suffering, and crime exposure in three Haitian communities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    13. Linna Luo & Bowen Pang & Jian Chen & Yan Li & Xiaolei Xie, 2019. "Assessing the Impact of Lifestyle Interventions on Diabetes Prevention in China: A Modeling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-12, May.
    14. Lazarus, L. & Chettiar, J. & Deering, K. & Nabess, R. & Shannon, K., 2011. "Risky health environments: Women sex workers’ struggles to find safe, secure and non-exploitative housing in Canada’s poorest postal code," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(11), pages 1600-1607.
    15. Rhodes, Tim & Watts, Louise & Davies, Sarah & Martin, Anthea & Smith, Josie & Clark, David & Craine, Noel & Lyons, Marion, 2007. "Risk, shame and the public injector: A qualitative study of drug injecting in South Wales," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(3), pages 572-585, August.
    16. Lelutiu-Weinberger, Corina & Pouget, Enrique R. & Des Jarlais, Don D.C. & Cooper, Hannah L. & Scheinmann, Roberta & Stern, Rebecca & Strauss, Shiela M. & Hagan, Holly, 2009. "A meta-analysis of the hepatitis C virus distribution in diverse racial/ethnic drug injector groups," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 579-590, February.
    17. Calderón-Villarreal, Alhelí & Terry, Brendan & Friedman, Joseph & González-Olachea, Sara Alejandra & Chavez, Alfonso & Díaz López, Margarita & Pacheco Bufanda, Lilia & Martinez, Carlos & Medina Ponce,, 2022. "Deported, homeless, and into the canal: Environmental structural violence in the binational Tijuana River," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    18. Agovino, Massimiliano & Crociata, Alessandro & Sacco, Pier Luigi, 2019. "Proximity effects in obesity rates in the US: A Spatial Markov Chains approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 301-311.
    19. Spicer, Neil & Harmer, Andrew & Aleshkina, Julia & Bogdan, Daryna & Chkhatarashvili, Ketevan & Murzalieva, Gulgun & Rukhadze, Natia & Samiev, Arnol & Walt, Gill, 2011. "Circus monkeys or change agents? Civil society advocacy for HIV/AIDS in adverse policy environments," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(12), pages 1748-1755.
    20. Collins, Alexandra B. & Boyd, Jade & Cooper, Hannah L.F. & McNeil, Ryan, 2019. "The intersectional risk environment of people who use drugs," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 234(C), pages 1-1.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:272:y:2021:i:c:s0277953621000964. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/315/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.