3-123 - Altering Developmental Outcomes for Overweight Youth through Social Networks: Evidence from Large-Scale and Experimental Studies

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

The rate of childhood and adolescent obesity in the U.S. as tripled over the last 30 years (Child Trends, 2010). Youth who are overweight are more likely to suffer from chronic physical health issues as well as experience a host of other challenges, such as low educational attainment and difficulties with peer relationships. Recent theoretical work on youth obesity has highlighted that the people in youth’s lives, particularly peers and family, play a key role in youths’ health (Harrison et al., 2011). Empirical research suggests that youths’ health and their relationships influence each other in a bi-directional manner over time. In line with bioecological theory, the goal of this symposium is to extent the current knowledge by testing how we might be able to alter overweight youths’ outcomes through social network processes. Using large-scale data, the first study decomposes the friend selection patterns among overweight and non-overweight adolescents and suggests that participating in extracurricular activities can alter these typical friend selection processes. The second paper takes a deeper look into the potential implications of peer networks that develop during a summer camp on multiple indicators of early adolescents’ physical health. The final paper provides experimental evidence that interventions with low-income families and their infants holds promise in altering mothers’ health supportive networks and individual health practices.

Sub Unit

• Social Relationships

Chairs

• Amy Bohnert, Loyola University, Chicago

• Sandra Denise Simpkins, Arizona State University

Discussant

• Kayla de la Haye, University of Southern California

Individual Presentations

• Using Social Network Analysis to Clarify the Roles of Obesity and Extracurricular Co-Participation in Adolescent Friend Selection - Presenting Author: David Schaefer, Arizona State Univ; Sandra Denise Simpkins, Arizona State University; Andrea Elaine Vest, Arizona State University

• Health consequences of friendship network formation in a community-based summer camp for low-income urban girls - Presenting Author: Kimberly Burdette, Loyola University Chicago; Amy Bohnert, Loyola University, Chicago; Lara Dugas, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine; Amanda Kathleen Ward, Loyola University, Chicago; David Shoham, Loyola University Chicago

• Health Support Networks for Preventing Childhood Obesity in Home Visitation Programs - Presenting Author: Sarah J Salvy, Pediatrics; Kayla de la Haye, University of Southern California; Michelle Kieffer, Antelope Valley Partners for Health