title: Sociometric network structure and its association with methamphetamine use norms among homeless youth.
abstract: Homeless youths' social networks are consistently linked with their substance use. Social networks influence behavior through several mechanisms, especially social norms. This study used sociometric analyses to understand whether social norms of drug use behaviors are clustered in network structures and whether these perceived norms (descriptive and injunctive) influence youths' drug use behaviors. An event-based approach was used to delineate boundaries of the two sociometric networks of homeless youth, one in Los Angeles, CA (n = 160) and the other in Santa Monica, CA (n = 130). Network characteristics included centrality (i.e., popularity) and cohesiveness (location in dense subnetworks). The primary outcome was recent methamphetamine use. Results revealed that both descriptive and injunctive norms influenced methamphetamine use. Network cohesion was found to be associated with perception of both descriptive and injunctive norms in both networks, however in opposite directions. Network interventions therefore might be effective if designed to capitalize on social influence that naturally occurs in cohesive parts of networks.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA. Electronic address: anamika.barmanadhikari@du.edu.
authors.forename: Anamika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barman-Adhikari
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA. Electronic address: sjbegun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Begun
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: ericr@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: abarron@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshioka-Maxwell
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA. Electronic address: aportillo2112@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez-Portillo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D018453:Homeless Youth; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine; D066262:Social Norms; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine
keywords: Homeless youth; Methamphetamine use; Perceived norms; Social networks