Annual Reviews tagline graphic
  Hello. Sign in to get personalized recommendations. New user? Register now.
 
Home Order Browse Search Profile Help Contact Us
Abstract
Annual Review of Sociology
Vol. 34: 405-429 (Volume publication date August 2008)
(doi:10.1146/annurev.soc.34.040507.134601)
First published online as a Review in Advance on March 24, 2008
Social Networks and Health

Kirsten P. Smith1 and Nicholas A. Christakis2
1Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
2Department of Sociology, Harvard University; Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; email:

People are interconnected, and so their health is interconnected. In recognition of this social fact, there has been growing conceptual and empirical attention over the past decade to the impact of social networks on health. This article reviews prominent findings from this literature. After drawing a distinction between social network studies and social support studies, we explore current research on dyadic and supradyadic network influences on health, highlighting findings from both egocentric and sociocentric analyses. We then discuss the policy implications of this body of work, as well as future research directions. We conclude that the existence of social networks means that people's health is interdependent and that health and health care can transcend the individual in ways that patients, doctors, policy makers, and researchers should care about.

Full TextPDF

Chain of Reviews: Annual Reviews chapters connected to this topic

Most recent citing papers (via CrossRef)

Faculty Hiring at Top-Ranked Higher Education Administration Programs: An Examination Using Social Network Analysis
Innovative Higher Education 34(3):149-159 (2009)
 
Journal Home > Table of Contents > Abstract

Prev. Article | Next Article
Full-text HTML
View/Print PDF (2,470.1 KB)
Add to Favorites
Email link to a friend

Add to CiteULike Add to Connotea Add to del.icio.us

 
 
Quick Search
for 
Authors:
Kirsten P. Smith
Nicholas A. Christakis
Keywords:
egocentric
sociocentric
health behavior
homophily
peer effects

Users who read this review also read:

Annual Review of Sociology. Volume 35, Page 553-572, Aug 2009
Abstract | Full Text | PDF (146 KB) | Add to Favorites | Related 
,
Annual Review of Sociology. Volume 31, Page 75-103, Aug 2005
Abstract | Full Text | PDF (161 KB) | Add to Favorites | Related 
Annual Review of Sociology. Volume 35, Page 413-433, Aug 2009
Abstract | Full Text | PDF (155 KB) | Add to Favorites | Related 
,
Annual Review of Sociology. Volume 35, Page 43-65, Aug 2009
Abstract | Full Text | PDF (180 KB) | Add to Favorites | Related 

2010 Annual Reviews. All Rights Reserved.
  Technology Partner - Atypon Systems, Inc.