INTRODUCTION: The objective was to study different social networks of adolescents regarding the use of tobacco, alcohol use or obesity, in order to know to what extent friends and schoolmates influenced them in keeping or quitting these habits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and ninety six adolescents aged 14-18 years attending an urban school in the province of Buenos Aires were surveyed and clinically studied. Information was obtained on anthropometric parameters, tobacco and alcohol use and friendship relations were assessed so as to construct different social networks. RESULTS: 18.8% of female adolescents and 16.5% of male adolescents were smokers; 23.3 and 39.4% drank alcohol and 15.3 and 19.0% were overweight. The networks showed that both smokers and alcohol users have close connections and a high level of centrality. The analysis showed that there is a strong affinity among people sharing the same habits. CONCLUSIONS: The study of adolescent social networks allowed to show the relation of affinity among people having the habit of smoking, alcohol use or presenting obesity. Both smokers and alcohol users are closely connected in the network, while obese adolescents seem to stay marginal. Knowledge on social networks and the possibility of working on their members could be used to disseminate healthy behaviors among adolescents.
INTRODUCTION: The objective was to study different social networks of adolescents regarding the use of tobacco, alcohol use or obesity, in order to know to what extent friends and schoolmates influenced them in keeping or quitting these habits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and ninety six adolescents aged 14-18 years attending an urban school in the province of Buenos Aires were surveyed and clinically studied. Information was obtained on anthropometric parameters, tobacco and alcohol use and friendship relations were assessed so as to construct different social networks. RESULTS: 18.8% of female adolescents and 16.5% of male adolescents were smokers; 23.3 and 39.4% drank alcohol and 15.3 and 19.0% were overweight. The networks showed that both smokers and alcohol users have close connections and a high level of centrality. The analysis showed that there is a strong affinity among people sharing the same habits. CONCLUSIONS: The study of adolescent social networks allowed to show the relation of affinity among people having the habit of smoking, alcohol use or presenting obesity. Both smokers and alcohol users are closely connected in the network, while obese adolescents seem to stay marginal. Knowledge on social networks and the possibility of working on their members could be used to disseminate healthy behaviors among adolescents.
Authors: Enedina Quiroga; Isaías García; José Alberto Benítez-Andrades; Carmen Benavides; Vicente Martín; Pilar Marqués-Sánchez Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2017-12-08 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: José Alberto Benítez-Andrades; Alejandro Rodríguez-González; Carmen Benavides; Leticia Sánchez-Valdeón; Isaías García Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-10-31 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Pilar Marqués-Sánchez; José Alberto Benítez-Andrades; María Dolores Calvo Sánchez; Natalia Arias Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-03-10 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: H J Littlecott; G F Moore; M McCann; G J Melendez-Torres; L Mercken; H Reed; M Mann; F Dobbie; J Hawkins Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-01-20 Impact factor: 4.135