# Adult Social Networks and Well Being

> **NIH NIH R01** · RAND CORPORATION · 2020 · $364,628

## Abstract

Project Summary
The proposed project will significantly advance the understanding of personal (family and friendship) network
influences on adult alcohol use by using social network analysis to investigate how personal networks are related to
patterns of drinking over time. Peer influence plays a central role in theories of problem behavior in adolescents, and
has been identified as a key driver of adolescent drinking across a number of studies, but to date there is no nationally
representative study of adult social networks and substance use. People born in recent years tend to drink more than
older generations, suggesting that as the population ages, these individuals will continue to drink more – particularly
important given that adults age 60+ will comprise a quarter of the total U.S. population by 2040 (up from one fifth
today). The fields of alcohol research and prevention may see substantial benefit from the use of novel
methodological techniques to develop models that may provide a clearer understanding of the ways in which social
relationships influence (and are influenced by) adult drinking.
Specifically, we will 1) compare the content and structure of the social networks of a nationally representative
sample adult in two age groups: middle adulthood (ages 30-59) and older adulthood (age 60-80); 2) test for
associations between the alcohol use behavior of adults and characteristics of their social networks, identifying
distinct influence and selection effects in trajectories of alcohol use and AUD outcomes over time; 3) examine
substance use disparities by sex, race/ethnicity and economic status over time and across stages of the lifespan.
To do so, we will draw field social network and substance use surveys to a national probability sample of 1,700
individuals, conducting longitudinal surveys one year apart for four years. The study will provide new insights
into the role of personal networks in adult alcohol use, and in disparities in health and practical information
concerning ways to reduce them.
As an additional benefit, data from the study will be publicly available and other researchers will also be able to
continue to survey the panel, providing an ongoing resource to further scientific understanding of adult social
networks. Thus, this study provides the initial framework for what could be one of the single most important
longitudinal network analysis data sets available. This project is envisioned to form the foundation for a vast array of
subsequent studies that seek to link longitudinal network data to individual behavior change among adults in
numerous fields and disciplines

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9897451
- **Project number:** 5R01AA025956-03
- **Recipient organization:** RAND CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL SEAN POLLARD
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $364,628
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9897451

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9897451, Adult Social Networks and Well Being (5R01AA025956-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9897451. Licensed CC0.

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