“Hidden” Social Networks in Behavior Change Interventions

• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2014.302399
• Publication Date: 2015-01-20T20:56:53Z
• Authors: Ruth F. Hunter; Helen McAneney; Michael Davis; Mark A. Tully; Thomas W. Valente; Frank Kee
• Keywords: Affect; Social network (sociolinguistics); Association (psychology)

We investigated whether "hidden" (or unobserved) social networks were evident in a 2011 physical activity behavior change intervention Belfast, Northern Ireland. Results showed evidence of unobserved the and illustrated how network evolved over short periods affected behavior. Behavior interventions should account for interaction among participants (i.e., networks) such interactions affect outcome.