scholarly journals Social Network Analysis of the Effects of a Social Media–Based Weight Loss Intervention Targeting Adults of Low Socioeconomic Status: Single-Arm Intervention Trial

10.2196/24690 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. e24690
Author(s):  
Ran Xu ◽  
David Cavallo

Background Obesity is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease risk factors, including hypertension and type II diabetes. Although numerous weight loss interventions have demonstrated efficacy, there is considerably less evidence about the theoretical mechanisms through which they work. Delivering lifestyle behavior change interventions via social media provides unique opportunities for understanding mechanisms of intervention effects. Server data collected directly from web-based platforms can provide detailed, real-time behavioral information over the course of intervention programs that can be used to understand how interventions work. Objective The objective of this study was to demonstrate how social network analysis can facilitate our understanding of the mechanisms underlying a social media–based weight loss intervention. Methods We performed secondary analysis by using data from a pilot study that delivered a dietary and physical activity intervention to a group of participants via Facebook. We mapped out participants’ interaction networks over the 12-week intervention period and linked participants’ network characteristics (eg, in-degree, out-degree, network constraint) to participants’ changes in theoretical mediators (ie, dietary knowledge, perceived social support, self-efficacy) and weight loss by using regression analysis. We also performed mediation analyses to explore how the effects of social network measures on weight loss could be mediated by the aforementioned theoretical mediators. Results In this analysis, 47 participants from 2 waves completed the study and were included. We found that increases in the number of posts, comments, and reactions significantly predicted weight loss (β=–.94, P=.04); receiving comments positively predicted changes in self-efficacy (β=7.81, P=.009), and the degree to which one’s network neighbors are tightly connected with each other weakly predicted changes in perceived social support (β=7.70, P=.08). In addition, change in self-efficacy mediated the relationship between receiving comments and weight loss (β=–.89, P=.02). Conclusions Our analyses using data from this pilot study linked participants’ network characteristics with changes in several important study outcomes of interest such as self-efficacy, social support, and weight. Our results point to the potential of using social network analysis to understand the social processes and mechanisms through which web-based behavioral interventions affect participants’ psychological and behavioral outcomes. Future studies are warranted to validate our results and to further explore the relationship between network dynamics and study outcomes in similar and larger trials.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Xu ◽  
David Cavallo

BACKGROUND Obesity is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors including hypertension and type II diabetes. Although numerous weight-loss interventions have demonstrated efficacy, there is considerably less evidence about the theoretical mechanisms through which they work. Delivering lifestyle behavior change interventions via social media provides unique opportunities for understanding mechanisms of intervention effects. Server data collected directly from online platforms can provide detailed, real-time behavioral information over the course of intervention programs that can be used to understand how interventions work. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to demonstrate how social network analysis can facilitate our understanding of the mechanisms underlying a social-media based weight loss intervention. METHODS This study performed secondary analysis using data from a pilot study that delivered a dietary and physical activity intervention to a group of low-SES participants via Facebook. We mapped out participants’ interaction networks over the 12-week intervention period, and linked participants’ network characteristics (e.g. in-degree, out-degree and network constraint) to participants’ changes in theoretical mediators (i.e. dietary knowledge, perceived social support, self-efficacy) and weight loss using regression analysis. This study also performed mediation analyses to explore how the effects of social network measures on weight loss could be mediated by the aforementioned theoretical mediators. RESULTS 47 participants from two waves completed the study and were included in the analysis. We found that participants creating posts, comments and reactions predicted weight-loss (β=-.94, P=.042); receiving comments positively predicted changes in self-efficacy (β=7.81, P=.009); the degree to which one’s network neighbors are tightly connected with each other weakly predicted changes in perceived social support (β=7.70, P=.08). In addition, change in self-efficacy mediated the relationship between receiving comments and weight-loss (Indirect effect=-.89, P=.017). CONCLUSIONS Our analyses using data from this pilot study have linked participants’ network characteristics with changes in several important study outcomes of interest, such as self-efficacy, social support and weight. Our results point to the potential of using social network analysis to understand the social processes and mechanisms through which online behavioral interventions affects participants’ psychological and behavioral outcomes. Future studies are warranted to validate our results and further explore the relationship between network dynamics and study outcomes in similar and larger trials.


1988 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 543-546
Author(s):  
Sigmund Hough

A pilot study was conducted in preparation for an extensive analysis of the social network characteristics of mildly mentally retarded adults. From a total of 10 clients (aged 25 to 67 yr.) living in residences which were a part of the agency's supportive living program, five were administered the Arizona Social Support Interview Schedule and five were administered the Children's Inventory of Social Support. Recommendations regarding the implementation of social network analysis with mildly mentally retarded adults were discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-104
Author(s):  
Ilham Aminudin ◽  
Dyah Anggraini

Banyak bisnis mulai muncul dengan melibatkan pengembangan teknologi internet. Salah satunya adalah bisnis di aplikasi berbasis penyedia layanan di bidang moda transportasi berbasis online yang ternyata dapat memberikan solusi dan menjawab berbagai kekhawatiran publik tentang layanan transportasi umum. Kemacetan lalu lintas di kota-kota besar dan ketegangan publik dengan keamanan transportasi umum diselesaikan dengan adanya aplikasi transportasi online seperti Grab dan Gojek yang memberikan kemudahan dan kenyamanan bagi penggunanya Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk menganalisa keaktifan percakapan brand jasa transportasi online di jejaring sosial Twitter berdasarkan properti jaringan. Penelitian dilakukan dengan dengan mengambil data dari percakapan pengguna di social media Twitter dengan cara crawling menggunakan Bahasa pemrograman R programming dan software R Studio dan pembuatan model jaringan dengan software Gephy. Setelah itu data dianalisis menggunakan metode social network analysis yang terdiri berdasarkan properti jaringan yaitu size, density, modularity, diameter, average degree, average path length, dan clustering coefficient dan nantinya hasil analisis akan dibandingkan dari setiap properti jaringan kedua brand jasa transportasi Online dan ditentukan strategi dalam meningkatkan dan mempertahankan keaktifan serta tingkat kehadiran brand jasa transportasi online, Grab dan Gojek.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-704
Author(s):  
Aprillian Kartino ◽  
M. Khairul Anam ◽  
Rahmaddeni ◽  
Junadhi

Covid-19 is a disease of the virus that is shaking the world and has been designated by WHO as a pandemic. This case of Covid-19 can be a place of dissemination of disinformation that can be utilized by some parties. The dissemination of information in this day and age has turned to the internet, namely social media, Twitter is one of the social media that is often used by Indonesians and the data can be analyzed. This study uses the social network analysis method, conducted to be able to find nodes that affect the ongoing interaction in the interaction network of information dissemination related to Covid-19 in Indonesia and see if the node is directly proportional to the value of its popularity. As well as to know in identifying the source of Covid-19 information, whether dominated by competent Twitter accounts in their fields. The data examined 19,939 nodes and 12,304 edges were taken from data provided by the web academic.droneemprit.id on the project "Analisis Opini Persebaran Virus Corona di Media Sosial", using the period of December 2019 to December 2020 on social media Twitter. The results showed that the @do_ra_dong account is an influential actor with the highest degree centrality of 860 and the @detikcom account is the actor with the highest popularity value of follower rank of 0.994741605. Thus actors who have a high degree of centrality value do not necessarily have a high follower rank value anyway. The study ignores if there are buzzer accounts on Twitter.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 332-346
Author(s):  
Cathrine Linnes ◽  
Holly Itoga ◽  
Jerome Agrusa ◽  
Joseph Lema

Social media has had a strong presence in many people’s lives over the last decade. In addition, social media platforms have allowed people to share opinions, provide advice on numerous factors, including where to visit, as well as to stay connected and maintain friendships. The hospitality and tourism industry, however, can make effective use of these powerful tools for marketing purposes, collaboration and information sharing, and service offerings. Reviewing social media followers’ behaviors and interests offers a wealth of information and valuable data for a variety of tourism organizations. This case study focuses on an analysis of the social networks applied to the fortified town of Fredrikstad in Norway. The data used in this research study were collected from the Facebook site of the tourist authority. The results of this research project demonstrate the strengths of applying a social network analysis to a dataset, which can aid in the strategic direction of a tourism destination. The conversations of the greatest interest can successfully be identified as well as the growth of the online network. This paper adds knowledge to the literature through the application of a social network analysis regarding the success of a tourism destination and its future potential.


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