Net4Health: Social Networks and Adolescent Health, 2025

McCann, Mark (2025). Net4Health: Social Networks and Adolescent Health, 2025. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-857841

The Net4Health project involves collecting social network and health data from adolescents attending secondary schools in Scotland. Net4Health builds upon previous networks and health research conducted in the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit (SPHSU). It aims to study the change in adolescent health behaviours and outcomes comparing the 2020s to previous decades, how peer-, school-, and family-level determinants of health outcomes have changed, and explore mechanisms through which interventions could improve health outcomes. It will also explore novel methods for collecting data relating to the relational aspects of adolescent health.

Net4Health will involve documentary analysis of school policies and structures, surveys with school year groups; and in a subset of schools: qualitative network interviews with pupils and teachers, and wearable device assessment of movement and use of space.

Data description (abstract)

Social networks and friendship groups are important factors related to the development of health risk and health promoting behaviours, mental health and wellbeing, educational attainment, and positive social engagement in adolescence and early adulthood.

The MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit has been studying adolescent social networks and health in the West of Scotland for several decades. The Teenage Friends and Lifestyles (1995), Peers and Levels of Stress (2006), and Adolescent Lifestyles in Contemporary Europe (2011) studies have been a rich source of information on the health needs of Scotland's younger citizens and have helped to identify how risk factors have changed over time.

Net4Health will continue from the previous studies and aims to understand how peer and social network influences on adolescent health operate in the West of Scotland today, and how these influences have changed, particularly in relation to mental health and wellbeing and within changing digital social environments. It is hoped that this study will provide information that will inform the appropriate design of social network interventions to improve health and wellbeing.

Data creators:

Creator Name	Affiliation	ORCID (as URL)
McCann Mark	University of Glasgow	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6100-1416

Contributors:

Name	Affiliation	ORCID (as URL)
McCann Mark	University of Glasgow	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6100-1416
Moore Laurence	University of Glasgow	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2182-823X
Simpson Sharon	University of Glasgow	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6219-1768
Mitchell Kirstin	University of Glasgow	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4409-6601
Inchley Joanna	University of Glasgow	https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8322-8817
Zucca Claudia	Tilburg University	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4448-8389
Letina Srebrenka	University of Limerick	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9901-9937
Long Emily	University of Glasgow	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1512-4471
Riddell Julie	University of Glasgow	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8084-4566

Sponsors:

Medical Research Council (MRC; MC_UU_12017/11, MC_UU_12017/14, MC_UU_00022/4), Chief Scientist Office (SPHSU11, SPHSU14, SPHSU19)

Topic classification:

Health
Education
Society and culture

Keywords:

SOCIAL NETWORKS, ADOLESCENCE, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION, ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY, ADOLESCENTS, MENTAL DEVELOPMENT, PEER-GROUP RELATIONSHIPS, WELL-BEING (HEALTH)

Project title:

Net4Health: social networks and adolescent health

Grant holders:

Mark McCann, Kirstin Mitchell, Laurence Moore, Sharon Simpson, Rich Mitchell

Project dates: