U.S. College Students’ Social Network Characteristics and Perceived Social Exclusion: A Comparison Between Drinkers and Nondrinkers Based on Past-Month Alcohol Use

AbstractSocial ties are crucial for humans. Disruption of ties through social exclusion has a marked effect on our thoughts and feelings; however, such effects can be tempered by broader social network resources. Here, we use functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired from 80 male adolescents to investigate how social exclusion modulates functional connectivity within and across brain networks involved in social pain and understanding the mental states of others (i.e., mentalizing). Furthermore, using objectively logged friendship network data, we examine how individual variability in brain reactivity to social exclusion relates to the density of participants’ friendship networks, an important aspect of social network structure. We find increased connectivity within a set of regions previously identified as a mentalizing system during exclusion relative to inclusion. These results are consistent across the regions of interest as well as a whole-brain analysis. Next, examining how social network characteristics are associated with task-based connectivity dynamics, participants who showed greater changes in connectivity within the mentalizing system when socially excluded by peers had less dense friendship networks. This work provides novel insight to understand how distributed brain systems respond to social and emotional challenges, and how such brain dynamics might vary based on broader social network characteristics.

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“Mixed” Drinking Motivations: A Comparison of Majority, Multiracial, and Minority College Students

Social Psychological and Personality Science ◽

10.1177/1948550619883294 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 676-687 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Brenda C. Straka ◽

Sarah E. Gaither ◽

Shawn K. Acheson ◽

H. S. Swartzwelder

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Substance Use ◽

Native American ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Social Exclusion ◽

Latino Students ◽

Minority Groups ◽

Black College ◽

Survey Study ◽

Minority College Students

Social exclusion is associated with substance use, but the specific link between majority and minority racial group membership and substance use is unknown. We examined how social exclusion among racial majority (White), Multiracial, and racial minority (Native American, Latino, Asian, and Black) college students relates to self-reported alcohol use and motivations. Using the AlcoholEdu for College™ survey, Study 1a reports five factors related to motives for initiating or inhibiting alcohol use. Study 1b analyzes majority, Multiracial, and minority college students’ comparative endorsement of these motivations. Study 2 compares these factors with established belonging scales using a separate undergraduate sample. White, Multiracial, Native American, and Latino students displayed the highest proportion of problematic alcohol use. White students endorsed belonging-based drinking motivations, while Multiracial and Asian students endorsed motivations similar to both majority and minority groups. Native American, Latino, and Black students endorsed abstaining motivations more than other groups.

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Why is social network drinking associated with college students’ alcohol use? Focus on psychological mediators.

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors ◽

10.1037/adb0000374 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 456-465 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Allecia E. Reid ◽

Kate B. Carey

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Social Network ◽

Alcohol Use

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Social network characteristics and alcohol use by ethnic origin: An ego-based network study on peer similarity, social relationships, and co-existing drinking habits among young Swedes

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0249120 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. e0249120

Author(s):

Nina-Katri Gustafsson ◽

Jens Rydgren ◽

Mikael Rostila ◽

Alexander Miething

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Ethnic Origin ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Closed Networks ◽

Drinking Habits ◽

Cultural Aspects ◽

Sex Risk ◽

Network Similarity ◽

Demographic Similarity

The study explores how social network determinants relate to the prevalence and frequency of alcohol use among peer dyads. It is studied how similar alcohol habits co-exist among persons (egos) and their peers (alters) when socio-demographic similarity (e.g., in ethnic origin), network composition and other socio-cultural aspects were considered. Data was ego-based responses derived from a Swedish national survey with a cohort of 23-year olds. The analytical sample included 7987 ego-alter pairs, which corresponds to 2071 individuals (egos). A so-called dyadic design was applied i.e., all components of the analysis refer to ego-alter pairs (dyads). Multilevel multinomial-models were used to analyse similarity in alcohol habits in relation to ego-alter similarity in ethnic background, religious beliefs, age, sex, risk-taking, educational level, closure in network, duration, and type of relationship, as well as interactions between ethnicity and central network characteristics. Ego-alter similarity in terms of ethnic origin, age and sex was associated with ego-alter similarity in alcohol use. That both ego and alters were non-religious and were members of closed networks also had an impact on similarity in alcohol habits. It was concluded that network similarity might be an explanation for the co-existence of alcohol use among members of peer networks.

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Social network characteristics and alcohol use among young Swedes with different ethnic backgrounds

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.118 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽

Author(s):

A Miething ◽

N K Gustafsson ◽

M Rostila ◽

J Rydgren

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Binge Drinking ◽

Market Integration ◽

Ethnic Background ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Cultural Aspects ◽

Network Similarity ◽

Network Composition

Abstract Background The study explores how social network determinants relate to the prevalence and frequency of alcohol use of members of social networks. In a so-called dyadic design we study how similar alcohol habits co-exist among individuals (egos) and their peers (alters), when variables such as ethnic background, network composition, and other socio-cultural aspects are considered. Methods The data were derived from a Swedish survey entitled “Social Capital and Labor Market Integration: A Cohort Study.” The study participants (egos; n = 1989) were around age 23 at the time of the interview. A so-called dyadic design was applied, which means that all components of the analysis refer to ego-alter pairs (n = 7828). The outcome variable considered how alcohol prevalence and frequency of binge-drinking co-exist between egos and their alters. The independent variables also measured mutual attributes and behaviors - whether egos and alters were at the same age and sex, had same ethnic background, were relatives or friends, had similar religious affiliations, or intensely interacted with friends. Results The analysis revealed that ego-alter similarity in terms of age, sex and ethnic background predict ego-alter similarity in alcohol use and binge-drinking. For example, if egos and alters shared a similar ethnic background, their risk of alcohol use was at least 30 percent higher as compared to those with different ethnic backgrounds. Relative to ego-alter pairs with mixed ethnic backgrounds, the odds of binge-drinking were highest for ego-alters pairs with Yugoslavian background (OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.27-2.42), followed by those with Iranian (OR 1.57; 1.04-2.35) and Swedish background (OR 1.28; 0.84-1.95). Conclusions We conclude that network similarity (i.e., homophily) is an important explanation for the co-existence of alcohol use among members of peer networks. Alcohol use is more common in homogeneous peer dyads representing population groups with higher use. Key messages Peer similarity predicts alcohol use and binge drinking. Ethnic similarity of peers is associated with increased alcohol use and binge drinking.

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Brain connectivity dynamics during social interaction reflect social network structure

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1616130114 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 114 (20) ◽

pp. 5153-5158 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Ralf Schmälzle ◽

Matthew Brook O’Donnell ◽

Javier O. Garcia ◽

Christopher N. Cascio ◽

Joseph Bayer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Network ◽

Social Exclusion ◽

Network Structure ◽

Brain Connectivity ◽

Mental States ◽

Individual Variability ◽

Friendship Networks ◽

Network Characteristics ◽

Social Network Structure ◽

Mentalizing System

Social ties are crucial for humans. Disruption of ties through social exclusion has a marked effect on our thoughts and feelings; however, such effects can be tempered by broader social network resources. Here, we use fMRI data acquired from 80 male adolescents to investigate how social exclusion modulates functional connectivity within and across brain networks involved in social pain and understanding the mental states of others (i.e., mentalizing). Furthermore, using objectively logged friendship network data, we examine how individual variability in brain reactivity to social exclusion relates to the density of participants’ friendship networks, an important aspect of social network structure. We find increased connectivity within a set of regions previously identified as a mentalizing system during exclusion relative to inclusion. These results are consistent across the regions of interest as well as a whole-brain analysis. Next, examining how social network characteristics are associated with task-based connectivity dynamics, we find that participants who showed greater changes in connectivity within the mentalizing system when socially excluded by peers had less dense friendship networks. This work provides insight to understand how distributed brain systems respond to social and emotional challenges and how such brain dynamics might vary based on broader social network characteristics.

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