Injuries/Violence
Social network analysis on sexual violence attitudes and behaviors among socially connected youth from communities across California Sabrina C. Boyce* Sabrina C. Boyce Holly Shakya Anna Hazlett Ricardo Vera Monroy Emma Jackson Jay G. Silverman
This research aims to illuminate how sexual violence (SV)-related attitudes and behaviors cluster among socially connected youth to understand the utility and potential importance of social network-based violence prevention. Social network data were collected from diverse youth program participants from 22 community-based organizations across California, 11 of which were implementing a community-led, community mobilization SV prevention program called Close to Home and 11 of which were implementing 4-H Youth Development Programs, and two layers of their social networks (n=1001; ages 14-24). These data were collected for the purposes of baseline assessment of a 24-month cluster-matched control evaluation of the Close to Home model, funded by CDC and undertaken in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health. Using this cross-sectional baseline data from program participants and their nominated peers, we used dyadic generalized estimating equations to understand the level to which socially connected peers hold attitudes and behave in similar ways related to SV. On average, nominating youth successfully recruited 1.6 of their close peers to participate in the survey. Statistically significant associations exist between nominators and their nominated peers across the full range of SV attitudes (β=0.29, p=0.001), positive bystander behavioral intentions (β=0.59, p<0.001), positive bystander behaviors (β=0.22, p=0.01), engagement in SV prevention (β=0.58, p<0.001). Results provide evidence of clustering of SV attitudes and behaviors across socially connected peers, suggesting that peer attitudes and behavior is influential on individual attitudes and behavior and that the effects of SV intervention may transit across peer networks. These results suggest that youth social networks and the normative attitudes and behaviors within them could be strategic to target for efficient and effective SV prevention.