TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding interactions in virtual HIV communities
T2 - a social network analysis approach
AU - Shi, Jingyuan
AU - Wang, Xiaohui
AU - Peng, Tai Quan
AU - Chen, Liang
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - This study investigated the driving mechanism of building interaction ties among the people living with HIV/AIDS in one of the largest virtual HIV communities in China using social network analysis. Specifically, we explained the probability of forming interaction ties with homophily and popularity characteristics. The exponential random graph modeling results showed that members in this community tend to form homophilous ties in terms of shared location and interests. Moreover, we found a tendency away from popularity effect. This suggests that in this community, resources and information were not disproportionally received by a few of members, which could be beneficial to the overall community.
AB - This study investigated the driving mechanism of building interaction ties among the people living with HIV/AIDS in one of the largest virtual HIV communities in China using social network analysis. Specifically, we explained the probability of forming interaction ties with homophily and popularity characteristics. The exponential random graph modeling results showed that members in this community tend to form homophilous ties in terms of shared location and interests. Moreover, we found a tendency away from popularity effect. This suggests that in this community, resources and information were not disproportionally received by a few of members, which could be beneficial to the overall community.
U2 - 10.1080/09540121.2016.1210074
DO - 10.1080/09540121.2016.1210074
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0954-0121
VL - 29
SP - 239
EP - 243
JO - AIDS Care: Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care: Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
IS - 2
ER -
