Social Network Health’s

Conceptual Model

Developing protective social networks and strengths in our schools and communities.
Social Network Health Conceptual Model – The SNH approach builds natural social networks that promote members’ well-being. Throughout engagement in collaborative activities SNH participants will build:
  • Positive social bonds and cohesion,
  • Group culture that normalizes and healthy practices and help-seeking behaviors (i.e., norms), and
  • Members skills in using socially embedded protective strengths (Five Cores).

Together these three protective functions create a healthy group that develops and supports healthy individuals.   

Individual Strengths and Protective Core Strengths.  Individuals will build their abilities and confidence in utilizing healthy, adaptive, skills to thrive in their day-to-day environments, strengthen their social bonds, experience well-being, mange times of stress and transition, and experience academic/professional success.  Groups learning together will develop the skills needed to grow and sustain these five core strengths and will develop connections and healthy expectations. 

Social Network Protective Strengths

How do these individual and network factors promote well-being and prevention? Using the research team’s network health framework,Social Network Health strengthens the protective functions of relationship networks:

Positive social bonds.

The protective factors, including belonging, support participants learning and modeling of skills for growing relationships–SNH participants develop connections to each other.

Norms that incentivize adaptive coping.

Through collaborative activities, participants develop skills for managing personal challenges and creating shared healthy norms. Behaviors are incentivized through descriptive norms (i.e., perceptions of what others do) and injunctive norms (i.e., perceived social consequences). These healthy coping norms are especially important, given evidence that social ties increase help-seeking behaviors.

Connection/Cohesion:

Healthy connections will be strengthened within the group, including increasing connections to previously isolated members.

Shared Social Expectations:

Groups will develop common language around common expectations for healthy coping. Groups will normalize and encourage the use of the five cores to support health.

The Five Cores

  • Healthy relationships and accountability (Supportive Relationships).
  • Informal and formal help-seeking (Trusted Adults/Mentors).
  • Guiding Values and Goals that provide meaning in life (Purpose).
  • Diversity of activities that give strength and balance emotions (Healthy Activities).
  • Developing awareness and concern for others (Generosity).

Why Supportive Relationships?

  • Isolation increased risk of smoking, obesity, heart disease, and premature death.
  • Loneliness contributes to depression, anxiety, and suicide risk.
  • Relationship disruption (break-ups) was a precipitate to suicide deaths.
  • Members in more cohesive environments have less suicide ideation.
  • Connections increase personal and career opportunities.

Why Trusted Adults/Mentors?

  • Positive mentoring associated with job satisfaction, job commitment, and retention.
  • Acceptability of seeking help associated with positive coping and fewer problems (Personal and career).
  • Resources available in schools and communities.

Why Purpose/Values?

  • Lack of purpose is associated with higher depression and anxiety.
  • Sense of purpose leads to better health and lower mortality.
  • Purpose contributes to better health behaviors and practices.
  • Purpose contributes to better coping with illness and disability.
  • Purpose is associated to faster recovery from injury.

Why Healthy Activities?

  • Physical activity reduces stress, depression, and improves well-being.
  • Exercise improves many health outcomes including blood pressure, heart health, and chronic disease prevention.
  • Dedicating time to hobbies reduces stress, leads to positive health outcomes, and Improves interpersonal relationships.

Why Generosity?

  • Generosity reduces stress, naturally fights depression, enhances one’s sense of purpose, support one’s physical health, and has shown to increase one’s lifespan.
  • Generosity promotes social connection and improves relationships.
  • Being generous makes us feel better about ourselves.
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Outcomes:

Groups became increasingly unified, exhibiting a shared commitment to healthy norms, and actively encouraged peers in help-seeking behaviors, fostering a supportive environment where every member feels valued and understood.
Social Network Health's interactive training fostered an even more dynamic relationship network. Within these groups, vulnerable members can draw strength from adaptive members, leading to more changes in who they identify as valued connections.
Schools have reported significant improvements in various metrics, including increased daily attendance, higher graduation rates, enhanced identification of Trusted Adults, greater willingness to seek help, and improved connectedness among students and staff. Additionally, school disciplinary issues have notably declined, reflecting the program's positive impact on the school climate and student well-being.

Network Enhancing Facilitation Strategies

Creating an environment for collaborative learning to develop protective strengths and networks through:
  • Peer to Peer Learning
  • Personal Meaningfulness
  • Active and distributed Format
  • Authentic Connection

From Individual To Group Focus

  • Moving from a focus of individual skills to recognizing and developing group strengths.
  • Reflecting on how group strengths benefit individuals and the group.
  • Extending these benefits to the larger group.
  • Supports formation of key relationship and culture Intentional scaffolding.