Sunbelt XXXI International Network for Social Network ... - INSNA

Framework For A Socio‐sexual Network Study Of Young Men Who Have Sex With MenKuhns, Lisa M.; Mustanski, Brian S.; Muth, Stephen Q.; Latkin, CarlPoster SessionAdolescents, HIV Risk, Social Network, Sex Networks, Ego‐centered NetworksSAT.PM3There is an alarming rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence among young men who have sex with men (YMSM), one of the few risk groups with an increasing rate ofinfection. YMSM experience multiple health disparities, including elevated rates of illicit drug use, exposure to violence, and mental health problems such assuicidality. Our research team has begun to gather a sample of 450 YMSM, ages 16‐20, using respondent‐driven sampling (RDS), a network sampling technique.The project, called Crew 450, is investigating the prevalence, developmental trajectories, and predictors of the clustering of psychosocial health issues linked toHIV. Very little is known about the basic structure and characteristics of social or sexual networks among YMSM or their influence on HIV‐related risk and otherclustering health issues. We have designed a network based sub‐study, guided by social support theory and the growing literature on sexual networkepidemiology to identify and describe the socio‐sexual network structure of YMSM. Study design includes structured social and sexual egocentric interviewswith a sub‐sample of Crew 450 participants using participant‐assisted sociograms to capture inter‐alter ties via Access/Pajek to describe core networkcharacteristics, including assortativity by degree, age and race/ethnicity and overlap between social, sexual, and substance‐using networks (i.e. multiplexity).We will present the plan for the social network sub‐study, the socio‐sexual network interview instrument, and the data capture protocol.From Data To Model: Networks In The SudanCarley, Kathleen M.Network DynamicsDynamic Network Analysis, Multilevel Networks, Text Mining, Conflict, Africa, Meta NetworksWED.PM1The past decade has been a period of dramatic turmoil for the Sudan, which changes politically, socially, and economically. Using an approach that combinesmachine learning, text analysis, subject matter expertise and social networks an assessment of this area was done. The rise of the Dinka, the changing natureof conflict, the separation of Southern Sudan are seen through changes in the meta‐network connecting political actors, organizations, political issues, and soon through time and space. Findings include increasing lines of contention, network complexity, changing brokers, and southern segmentation at the sametime that there is increased desertification.