Human Networks

Neha Gondal, assistant professor in the department of sociology, said social network data — which observes the people with whom individuals surrounds themselves — can be used to model and understand common unhealthy practices within society.

“The people we know, the people we are connected to, have important implications for a bunch of things in our lives,” Gondal said. “This includes what we do, what we think and, from the perspective of this audience, public health consequences such as smoking and drinking, marijuana use, alcohol use, oral health obesity, exercise habits and mental health.”

Analyzing data on how social networks can affect lifestyles will help scientists understand these health conditions more in depth and produce possible preventive measures, Gondal said.

Articles: