Network Interventions for Changing Physical Activity Behaviour in Preadolescents
Network interventions can help to achieve behavioural change by inducing peer-pressure in the network. However, inducing
peer-pressure without considering the structure of the existing social network may render the intervention ineffective or
weaker. In a seven-week school-based field experiment using preadolescents’ physical activity as a proxy for estimating behavioural
change, we test the hypothesis that boys’ and girls’ distinct networks are susceptible to different social incentives. We
run three different social-rewards schemes, in which classmates’ rewards depend on the physical activity of two friends either
reciprocally (directly or indirectly) or collectively. Compared with a random-rewards control, social-rewards schemes have an
overall significantly positive effect on physical activity (51.8% increase), with females being more receptive to the direct reciprocity
scheme (76.4%) and males to team (collective) rewards (131.5%). Differences in the sex-specific sub-networks can
explain these findings. Network interventions adapted to the network-specific characteristics may constitute a powerful tool
for behavioural change.
PROESTAKIS Antonios;
POLIZZI DI SORRENTINO Eugenia;
BROWN Helen Elizabeth;
VAN SLUIJS Esther;
MANI Ankur;
LOURO CALDEIRA Sandra;
HERRMANN Benedikt;
2018-12-21
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
JRC111851
2397-3374 (online),
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-018-0436-y,
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC111851,
10.1038/s41562-018-0436-y (online),
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