Egocentric Networks As Determinants of Health Inequalities in Adolescence

This study investigates the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), migration status, and health among adolescents in Europe, using data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries (CILS4EU). We investigate (1) whether adolescents from different social groups — particularly migrants versus non-migrants and those from different SES backgrounds — systematically display unequal health outcomes (including both mental and physical aspects); and (2) to what extent egocentric social networks operate as moderators and mediators of this association. Among social network factors, we consider both the structure and composition of personal networks (withing and beyond school) and classroom egocentric networks.

The study employs statistical network analysis, in conjunction with multilevel regression models, to assess whether network characteristics, including the density of friendships within the classroom and the proportion of same-ethnicity or similar-SES friendships, influence the impact of SES and migration status on health outcomes. The moderating role of network ties is explored to understand whether they amplify or buffer the effects of socioeconomic and ethnic disparities. In addition, the mediating role of network structure is examined to determine if characteristics of the social connections themselves underlie the mechanisms through which SES and migration status affect health.

Preliminary results suggest that adolescents with more socioeconomically or ethnically homogeneous networks may experience different health outcomes, indicating that social networks play an important role in shaping health disparities among adolescents. These findings contribute to understanding the intersection of SES, migration, and health, emphasizing the importance of considering social network dynamics in efforts to reduce health inequalities.