Social network mechanisms

Abstract

The influence and significance of social networks in health research are becoming widely discussed. Sociological network research meets the demand for a stronger consideration of "contexts" or the "environment" that influences health and care. Social networks are conceived as a mediating meso-level, which mediates between social macro-structures (e.g., healthcare systems, institutions, and organizations) and individual (not always) rationally acting actors. This perspective offers the possibility to analyze a variety of psychosocial mechanisms. These mechanisms can influence individual health in different ways, including (health) behavior, psyche, or physiology. In this chapter we present some central theoretical concepts, as well as empirical results, on network effects under the headings of "social support, " "social integration, " "social influence, " and "social contagion. "