Social Networks and Health: Reciprocal Interdependencies

Health and illness are not merely individual conditions but are deeply embedded in social relationships and network structures. Social networks shape health behaviours, trajectories of illness, healthcare utilisation, and psychosocial well-being. At the same time, health events and health conditions can affect the structure, composition, and dynamics of social networks. Health and social networks are therefore mutually interdependent, yet research has often examined only one direction of this relationship.

The conference focuses on this reciprocal relationship and invites theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions that explicitly conceptualise and analyse health as a network-related phenomenon. It aims to bring together current research approaches, foster interdisciplinary exchange, and advance our understanding of the role of social networks in health inequalities, prevention, healthcare, and life-course processes.

Topics of interest

• Social networks as resources or risks for physical and mental health
• Network mechanisms in the transmission of health behaviours, stress, emotions, or knowledge
• Effects of illness, disability, or care needs on network structures and relationship quality
• Social support, social control, and social isolation in the context of health
• Social networks and health inequalities (e.g., by socioeconomic position, gender, migration background, or age)
• Digital networks, social media, and health
• Social network methods in health and medical sociology
• Longitudinal and life-course perspectives on social networks and health
• Network-based approaches to intervention, prevention, and healthcare

The conference welcomes researchers at all career stages. We particularly encourage submissions that introduce innovative theoretical perspectives or methodological developments.

Contributions may be submitted for either an oral presentation or a poster presentation. Both formats may be presented in English or German. The best poster will receive a Best Poster Award at the conference.

Please submit an abstract of 300–400 words, including the title, author name(s), and institutional affiliation(s), by 26 November 2026 to philip.adebahr-maskow[at]soziologie.uni-halle.de and krueger[at]wiso.uni-koeln.de.

Please indicate in your submission whether you would prefer an oral or a poster presentation and whether you intend to present in English or German.

Everyone interested is warmly invited to attend the conference, including those not presenting. Participation is free of charge.

Registration will be open from early January 2027 until 31 January 2027 via the following link: [link to follow]

As catering will be planned on the basis of registrations, we kindly ask you to register only if you are certain to attend. If you are unable to attend after all, please cancel your registration.