Network interventions for changing physical activity behaviour in preadolescents

Antonios Proestakis, Eugenia Polizzi Sorrentino, Helen Elizabeth Brown, Esther Sluijs, Ankur Mani, Sandra Caldeira and Benedikt Herrmann
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Eugenia Polizzi Sorrentino: Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Helen Elizabeth Brown: University of Cambridge
Esther Sluijs: University of Cambridge
Ankur Mani: University of Minnesota
Sandra Caldeira: Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Benedikt Herrmann: Joint Research Centre, European Commission

Nature Human Behaviour, 2018, vol. 2, issue 10, 778-787

Abstract: Abstract 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.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41562-018-0436-y

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