Optimal rewiring in adaptive networks in multi-coupled vaccination, epidemic and opinion dynamics

André L. Oestereich, Marcelo A. Pires, Nuno Crokidakis and Daniel O. Cajueiro

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 2023, vol. 176, issue C

Abstract: We investigate the emerging scenarios from an epidemic model with vaccination coupled with opinion dynamics in a non-static network. In contrast to prior studies, our approach involves a multi-coupled process that takes into account the interaction among opinion dynamics, epidemic spreading, vaccination, and network restructuring. The network structure evolves as agents with differing opinions disconnect from one another and connect with agents that share similar opinions about vaccination. We consider a SIS-like model with an extra vaccinated state. Agents can have continuous opinions and every time an agent disconnects from a neighbor, they connect to a new neighbor. Our Monte Carlo simulations have revealed a series of notable results. First, we note a spontaneous emergence of network homophily, accompanied by scenarios with a complete fragmentation of the network. Second, we show the presence of a first-order phase transition with metastable states. Third, we observe the intriguing presence of scenarios with a dual effect: an increase in the probability of rewiring can decrease the infection rate in the long-term, but it can be accompanied by a side effect in the short-term namely the potential amplification the epidemic peak. This non-trivial side effect in the short-term is a transient byproduct of the fragmentation of the network into smaller, disconnected subnetworks. Overall, our non-monotonic results suggest that high values of rewiring that do not lead to the breakup of the network are optimal.

Keywords: Complex systems; Epidemic spreading; Collective phenomena; Computer simulations; Critical phenomena (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960077923010263
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:chsofr:v:176:y:2023:i:c:s0960077923010263

DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2023.114125

Access Statistics for this article

Chaos, Solitons & Fractals is currently edited by Stefano Boccaletti and Stelios Bekiros

More articles in Chaos, Solitons & Fractals from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Thayer, Thomas R. ().