The Development and Analysis of a Macro-Network of Vulnerable Young Men

描述(由申请人提供)：男男性行为者(YMSM)的艾滋病毒/艾滋病流行率令人震惊，也是感染率上升的仅有的风险群体之一。网络研究是当前的优先领域，因为艾滋病毒高度依赖于性传播和毒品网络动态；然而，很少有研究研究YMSM的网络。为了促进对基督教青年会药物和性网络以及这些网络如何影响艾滋病毒传播的了解，本研究建议利用NIDA资助的两项父母研究中已经收集的数据来构建和分析青年男性同性恋的宏观网络。这两项研究收集了175名YMSM的样本，正在调查他们的药物、性和社会网络，并收集关于艾滋病毒的流行率、发展轨迹和预测因素以及与这种疾病有关的多种心理社会健康问题的数据(综合结果)。尽管这些研究是重要的第一步，但收集的网络数据本质上是以自我为中心(或个人网络)的。虽然以自我为中心的数据有助于了解个人在其个人网络中的关系以及对艾滋病毒的可能影响，但许多网络衡量标准不能用以自我为中心的数据(即距离、中心性、位置等价性)进行准确评估。此外，以自我为中心的数据可能是有偏见的，因为特定的网络成员(更改者)可能会在以自我为中心的网络中多次出现。最后，网络之间的疾病传播是无法衡量的。这项研究分两个阶段进行，建议通过匹配已经收集到的更改者的识别信息和建立一个YMSM的宏观网络来连接这些YMSM先前收集的以自我为中心的网络。像这样的网络从未被YMSM收集过，并将导致新的和重要的分析。我们将使用概率匹配软件创建这些链接。该项目的第一阶段将侧重于建立基督教青年会的宏观网络。项目第二阶段将分析宏观网络，其分目标如下：A)审查基督教青年会的宏观网络结构，并确定这些网络结构因个人特征而有何不同；B)分析艾滋病毒传播和行为传染(例如避孕套的传播和吸毒)；C)确定宏观网络中的关键个人(连接毒品和性网络的个人)和可能拥有最大影响力的个人(高度集中的社会网络个人)；D)描述宏观网络中吸毒和艾滋病毒危险行为的重叠；最后，E)考察宏观网络结构在共性结果预测中的价值。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) have an alarming HIV/AIDS prevalence and are also one of the only risk groups showing an increasing rate of infections. Network research is a current priority area due to HIV's high transmission dependence on sexual and drug network dynamics; however, few studies have examined the networks of YMSM. In order to advance knowledge of the drug and sexual networks of YMSM and how these networks influence HIV transmission, this study proposes to construct and analyze a macro- network of YMSM by utilizing data already being collected within two NIDA-funded parent studies. These two studies have gathered a sample of 175 YMSM and are investigating their drug, sex, and social networks, and are also collecting data on the prevalence, developmental trajectories, and predictors of HIV and multiple psychosocial health issues linked to the disease (syndemic outcomes). Although these studies are an important first step, the network data collected is ego-centric (or personal network) in nature. While ego-centric data can contribute to understanding the relationships individuals have within their personal networks and possible influence on HIV, many network measures cannot be accurately assessed with ego-centric data (i.e., distance, centrality, positional equivalence). Additionally, ego-centric data may be biased as particular network members (alters) may appear many times across ego-centric networks. And finally, disease spread between networks cannot be measured. This study is a two-phase project that proposes to link the previously collected ego-centric networks of these YMSM by matching the already collected identifying information of alters and building a macro-network of YMSM. A network such as this has never been collected with YMSM, and will lead to new and important analyses. We will create these links using probabilistic matching software. Phase 1 of the project will focus on the construction of the macro-network of YMSM. Phase 2 of the project will analyze the macro-network with the following sub-aims: A) Examine the macro-network structure of YMSM and determine how these network structures differ by individual characteristics; B) Analyze HIV transmission and behavior contagion (e.g. the spread of condom and drug use); C) Identify the key individuals within the macro-network (bridge drug- and sex-network individuals) and those who may hold the most influence (high centrality social- network individuals); D) To describe overlap in drug use and HIV risk behaviors within the macro-network; and, finally E) To examine the value of macro-network structures in the prediction of syndemic outcomes.