Using Social Network Analysis to Identify Key Child Care Center Staff for Obesity Prevention Interventions: A Pilot Study
Introduction. Interest has grown in how systems thinking could be used in obesity prevention. Relationships between key actors, represented by social networks, are an important focus for considering intervention in systems. Method. Two long day care centers were selected in which previous obesity pr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Obesity |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/919287 |
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| author | Jennifer Marks Lisa M. Barnett Chad Foulkes Penelope Hawe Steven Allender |
| author_facet | Jennifer Marks Lisa M. Barnett Chad Foulkes Penelope Hawe Steven Allender |
| author_sort | Jennifer Marks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction. Interest has grown in how systems thinking could be used in obesity prevention. Relationships between key actors, represented by social networks, are an important focus for considering intervention in systems. Method. Two long day care centers were selected in which previous obesity prevention programs had been implemented. Measures showed ways in which physical activity and dietary policy are conversations and actions transacted through social networks (interrelationships) within centers, via an eight item closed-ended social network questionnaire. Questionnaire data were collected from (17/20; response rate 85%) long day care center staff. Social network density and centrality statistics were calculated, using UCINET social network software, to examine the role of networks in obesity prevention. Results. “Degree” (influence) and “betweeness” (gatekeeper) centrality measures of staff inter-relationships about physical activity, dietary, and policy information identified key players in each center. Network density was similar and high on some relationship networks in both centers but markedly different in others, suggesting that the network tool identified unique center social dynamics. These differences could potentially be the focus of future team capacity building. Conclusion. Social network analysis is a feasible and useful method to identify existing obesity prevention networks and key personnel in long day care centers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-74d4e303b4a44fef9257c075c1f1ecdc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2090-0708 2090-0716 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Obesity |
| spelling | doaj-art-74d4e303b4a44fef9257c075c1f1ecdc2025-08-20T02:07:27ZengWileyJournal of Obesity2090-07082090-07162013-01-01201310.1155/2013/919287919287Using Social Network Analysis to Identify Key Child Care Center Staff for Obesity Prevention Interventions: A Pilot StudyJennifer Marks0Lisa M. Barnett1Chad Foulkes2Penelope Hawe3Steven Allender4WHO Collaborating Center for Obesity Prevention, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, AustraliaSchool of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, AustraliaHealthy Together Geelong, City of Greater Geelong, Geelong, VIC 3220, AustraliaPopulation Health and Inequalities Research Center University of Calgary, Calgary, T2N 4N1, CanadaWHO Collaborating Center for Obesity Prevention, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, AustraliaIntroduction. Interest has grown in how systems thinking could be used in obesity prevention. Relationships between key actors, represented by social networks, are an important focus for considering intervention in systems. Method. Two long day care centers were selected in which previous obesity prevention programs had been implemented. Measures showed ways in which physical activity and dietary policy are conversations and actions transacted through social networks (interrelationships) within centers, via an eight item closed-ended social network questionnaire. Questionnaire data were collected from (17/20; response rate 85%) long day care center staff. Social network density and centrality statistics were calculated, using UCINET social network software, to examine the role of networks in obesity prevention. Results. “Degree” (influence) and “betweeness” (gatekeeper) centrality measures of staff inter-relationships about physical activity, dietary, and policy information identified key players in each center. Network density was similar and high on some relationship networks in both centers but markedly different in others, suggesting that the network tool identified unique center social dynamics. These differences could potentially be the focus of future team capacity building. Conclusion. Social network analysis is a feasible and useful method to identify existing obesity prevention networks and key personnel in long day care centers.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/919287 |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Marks Lisa M. Barnett Chad Foulkes Penelope Hawe Steven Allender Using Social Network Analysis to Identify Key Child Care Center Staff for Obesity Prevention Interventions: A Pilot Study Journal of Obesity |
| title | Using Social Network Analysis to Identify Key Child Care Center Staff for Obesity Prevention Interventions: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | Using Social Network Analysis to Identify Key Child Care Center Staff for Obesity Prevention Interventions: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Using Social Network Analysis to Identify Key Child Care Center Staff for Obesity Prevention Interventions: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using Social Network Analysis to Identify Key Child Care Center Staff for Obesity Prevention Interventions: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | Using Social Network Analysis to Identify Key Child Care Center Staff for Obesity Prevention Interventions: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | using social network analysis to identify key child care center staff for obesity prevention interventions a pilot study |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/919287 |
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