Social influence of family networks on T2D risk perceptions and health behavior

描述(由申请人提供)：本研究培训计划的目标是应用社会网络方法，根据家庭健康史(FHH)了解家庭网络系统在2型糖尿病(T2D)高危家庭风险信息交流和降低风险行为中的作用和影响。虽然生活方式因素可以帮助预防或推迟T2D的发病，但T2D的公共卫生负担仍在继续上升。FHH是T2D的一个危险因素，可以帮助识别那些风险增加的人，谁可能受益于有针对性的干预。家庭网络系统可能是发展这种干预措施的理想环境，因为家庭成员有共同的行为、环境影响，如果是生物学上相关的，还有基因。以家庭为基础的干预措施旨在增加对FHH的了解，并在T2D风险增加的人群中促进采用降低风险的行为，可能特别有效。然而，社会影响在T2D风险家庭中降低风险行为中的作用还没有被研究。拟议中的研究将填补文献中的这一空白。这是一项为期一年的混合方法研究，包括通过电话访谈收集定性数据，并根据参与者的偏好通过在线或电话访谈收集定量调查数据。定量调查数据将使用网络上查询知识网络的网络基础设施(C-IKnow)收集，这是一个免费的基于网络的软件工具，旨在收集和分析社交网络数据。将评估的措施包括参与者信息(人口统计数据、健康行为和个人健康信息)、感知T2D的FHH和相关情况，以及通过电话访谈和/或在线调查进行的网络评估(列举家庭成员，包括社会亲属、基于FHH的风险信息的交流、与生活方式行为有关的鼓励和共同参与，以及家庭功能特征，如凝聚力、冲突、表达能力)。社会网络方法将被用来调查关于T2D相关FHH信息的沟通模式和行为鼓励是否与降低高危家庭T2D风险的健康行为相关。这项研究的结果可能有助于开发新的干预措施，利用高危家庭中既定的社会影响模式。被推荐的导师所代表的科学学科包括定量心理学、统计学和社会网络方法论。候选人代表的科学学科包括遗传咨询、公共卫生基因组学(重点是社会和行为科学)和应用流行病学。 公共卫生相关性：将使用社会网络方法，根据家庭病史确定哪些家庭成员在传播家庭风险信息方面发挥核心作用，并在激励有2型糖尿病风险的家庭成员参与降低风险行为方面具有影响力。拟议的研究培训计划与公共卫生相关，因为雇用通过社会网络方法确定的有影响力的家庭成员进行干预努力可能在实现可持续的行为改变方面特别有效。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this research training program is to apply social network methods to understand the role and influence of the family network system on the communication of risk information and engagement in risk-reducing behaviors in families at risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) based on family health history (FHH). Although lifestyle factors can help prevent or delay the onset of T2D, the public health burden of T2D continues to rise. FHH is a risk factor for T2D and can help identify those at increased risk who may benefit from targeted interventions. The family network system may be an ideal context to develop such interventions, since family members share behaviors, environmental influences, and, if biologically related, genes. Family-based interventions aimed at increased understanding of FHH and promoting adoption of risk-reducing behaviors among those at increased risk of T2D may be particularly effective. However, the role of social influence on risk-reducing behaviors within families at risk of T2D has not been examined. The proposed research will fill this gap in the literature. This is a one year mixed-methods study involving the collection of qualitative data through telephone interviews and quantitative survey data collected either online or through telephone interviews depending on participants' preference. Quantitative survey data will be collected using Cyber-Infrastructure for Inquiring Knowledge Networks on the Web (C-IKNOW), a free web-based software tool designed to collect and analyze social network data. Measures that will be assessed include participant information (demographics, health behaviors, and personal health information), perceived FHH of T2D and related conditions, and network assessment via the telephone interview and/or online survey (enumeration of family members including social kin, communication of FHH-based risk information, encouragement and co-engagement related to lifestyle behaviors, and family functioning characteristics such as cohesion, conflict, expressiveness). Social network methods will be used to investigate whether patterns of communication regarding T2D relevant FHH information and behavioral encouragement are associated with health behaviors that reduce T2D risk in at-risk families. Findings from this study could contribute to the development of novel interventions that capitalize on established patterns of social influence within at-risk families. The scientific disciplines represented by the proposed mentor include quantitative psychology, statistics, and social network methodology. The scientific disciplines represented by the candidate include genetic counseling, public health genomics (with an emphasis on social and behavioral science), and applied epidemiology. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Social network methods will be used to identify family members who are central to the dissemination of family risk information and influential in motivating engagement in risk-reducing behaviors among family members at risk of type 2 diabetes based on family history. The proposed research training program has relevance to public health because employing influential family members identified through social network methods in intervention efforts may be particularly effective in achieving sustainable behavior change.