Social Network-Based HIV Prevention for Homeless Youth

Project Summary:
To date, the most effective peer-based HIV intervention has been Popular Opinion Leader (POL) programs, which have been successfully implemented in multiple high-risk populations nationally and internationally. This study aims to examine how characteristics of social networks may influence the development of a POL intervention among high-risk populations; in this case, homeless youth.

Project Description:
This project proposes enhancing the development of POL interventions for specific high-risk populations by examining three network-based phenomena that affect the diffusion process and which are likely to impact opinion leader intervention effectiveness: (1) the social roles/social status of pro-social peers, (2) the structural properties of the social network, and (3) the social influence process in the local context.

Project Investigator(s):
Eric Rice

Research Period: 07/01/09 - 02/29/12

Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health

Total Award Amount: $ 447,646