Chains of affection: the structure of adolescent romantic and sexual networks
Open accessAbstract
This article describes the structure of the adolescent romantic and sexual network in a population of over 800 adolescents residing in a midsized town in the midwestern United States. Precise images and measures of network structure are derived from reports of relationships that occurred over a period of 18 months between 1993 and 1995. The study offers a comparison of the structural characteristics of the observed network to simulated networks conditioned on the distribution of ties; the observed structure reveals networks characterized by longer contact chains and fewer cycles than expected. This article identifies the micromechanisms that generate networks with structural features similar to the observed network. Implications for disease transmission dynamics and social policy are explored.
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The validity of agent-based models can be assessed by comparing their emergent descriptions with epidemiological data.
“Analysts can assess the validity of their models by comparing the emergent descriptions to epidemiological data (Bearman, Moody, & Stovel, 2004; Hedström, 2005; Hedström & Bearman, 2009).”
From Syndemics: a theory in search of data or data in search of a theory? (2018) · cites this paper as Bearman, Moody, & Stovel, 2004
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“1 40 (14,26) 2 84 (38,46) 3 144 (64,80) 4 57 (30,27) Positive attitude I take a positive attitude toward myself 1 2 (0,2) 2 23 (8,15) 3 65 (28,37) 4 160 (72,88) 5 75 (38,37) Health Health Rating 1 7 (4,3) 2 56 (18,38) 3 200 (95,105) 4 62 (29,33) Table 2. Summary of wellness-related survey questions in NetHealth study.…”
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- Authors
- Bearman, P. S., Moody, J., & Stovel, K.
- Affiliations
- Columbia University (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Venue
- American Journal of Sociology
- Publisher
- University of Chicago Press
- Published
- 2004-07
- Volume
- 110
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 44-91
- ISSN
- 0002-9602 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-5390
- OpenAlex
- W2147427313
- Cited by
- 817
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 66 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 42 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 53 · 2013: 59 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 20.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- American Journal of Sociology (publishedVersion)
- Columbia Academic Commons (Columbia University)
- Funders
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Complex Network Analysis Techniques
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models
- Keywords
- adolescent romantic relationships, network structure, network cycles, network simulation, disease transmission, social policy, adolescent sexuality
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