Sexual network

Like other forms of social networks, sexual networks can be formally studied using the mathematics of graph theory and network theory.{{cite journal |last= Liljeros |first= Fredrik |author2=Christofer R. Edling |author3=Luis A. Nunes Amaral |year= 2003|title= Sexual networks: implications for the transmission of sexually transmitted infections |journal= Microbes and Infection|volume= 5 |issue= 2 |pages= 189–196 |doi=10.1016/s1286-4579(02)00058-8|pmid= 12650777 }}{{cite journal |last= Liljeros |first= Fredrik |author2=Christofer R. Edling |author3=Luis A. Nunes Amaral |author4=H. Eugene Stanley |author5=Yvonne Aberg |year= 2001|title= The web of human sexual contacts |journal= Nature|volume= 411 |issue= 6840 |pages= 907–908 |doi=10.1038/35082140 |pmid=11418846|arxiv=cond-mat/0106507 |bibcode= 2001Natur.411..907L |s2cid= 14559344 }}

Recent epidemiological studies{{cite journal |last= Rocha |first= L.E.C. |author2=Fredrik Liljeros |author3=Petter Holme |year= 2010|title= Information dynamics shape the sexual networks of Internet-mediated prostitution |journal= Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America|volume= 107 | issue=13 |pages= 5706–5713 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0914080107 |pmid=20231480 |pmc=2851932|bibcode=2010PNAS..107.5706R |doi-access= free }} have investigated sexual networks, and suggest that the statistical properties of sexual networks are crucial to the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sub-graphs, both large and small, can be defined within the overall sexual network graph; for example, people who frequent particular bars or clubs, belong to a particular ethnic group or take part in a particular type of sexual activity, or are part of a particular outbreak of an STI. In particular, assortative mixing between people with large numbers of sexual partners seems to be an important factor in the spread of an STI.

In a surprising result, mathematical models predict that the sexual network graph for the human race appears to have a single giant component that indirectly links almost all people who have had more than one sexual partner, and a great many of those who have had only one sexual partner (if their one sexual partner was themselves part of the giant component).{{Citation needed|date=August 2013}}

For more detailed epidemiological work, the time sequence of sexual contacts is important.

• Bugchasing
• Contact tracing
• Small world experiment
• Social network

{{Reflist}}

• M Kretzschmar. "[https://journals.lww.com/stdjournal/Abstract/2000/11000/Sexual_Network_Structure_and_Sexually_Transmitted.11.aspx Sexual network structure and sexually transmitted disease prevention: a modeling perspective]". Sexually Transmitted Diseases volume 27, number 10 (November 2000): pages 627– 35.
• {{cite journal | last1 = De | first1 = P. | display-authors = etal | year = 2004 | title = Sexual network analysis of a gonorrhea outbreak | url = http://sextrans.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/80/4/280 | journal = Sex Transm Infect | volume = 80 | issue = 4| pages = 280–285 | doi = 10.1136/sti.2003.007187 | pmid = 15295126 | pmc = 1744860 }}
• {{cite journal | last1 = Bearman | first1 = P. S. | last2 = Moody | first2 = J. | last3 = Stovel | first3 = K. | year = 2004 | title = Chains of Affection: The Structure of Adolescent Romantic and Sexual Networks. | journal = American Journal of Sociology | volume = 110 | issue = 1| pages = 44–91 | doi=10.1086/386272| citeseerx = 10.1.1.483.9666 | s2cid = 13493350 }}
• L E C Rocha, F Liljeros and P Holme [http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/03/10/0914080107.abstract Information dynamics shape the sexual networks of Internet-mediated prostitution]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences free online (March 2010).
• {{cite journal | last1 = Apostolopoulos | first1 = Y. | last2 = Sönmez | first2 = S. | last3 = Shattell | first3 = M. | last4 = Kronenfeld | first4 = J. | last5 = Smith | first5 = D. | last6 = Stanton | first6 = S. | year = 2011 | title = Cruising for Truckers on Highways and the Internet: Sexual Networks and Infection Risk | url =http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/S_Sonmez_Cruising_2011.pdf | journal = AIDS Education and Prevention | volume = 23 | issue = 3| pages = 249–266 | doi = 10.1521/aeap.2011.23.3.249 | pmid = 21696243 }}
• {{cite journal | last1 = O'Connor | first1 = M. L. | year = 1999 | title = Sexual Network Patterns Contribute to Racial Disparities in Disease Risk. Family | journal = Planning Perspectives | volume = 31 | issue = 6| pages = 309–310 | doi=10.2307/2991545| jstor = 2991545 }}
• {{cite journal | last1 = Choudhury | first1 = B. | last2 = Risley | first2 = C. | last3 = Ghani | first3 = A. | last4 = Bishop | first4 = C. | last5 = Ward | first5 = H. | last6 = Fenton | first6 = K. | last7 = Spratt | first7 = B. | year = 2006| title = Identification of individuals with gonorrhoea within sexual networks: a population-based study | journal = Lancet | volume = 368| issue = 9530| pages = 139–146| doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)69003-X | pmid=16829298| s2cid = 21770641 }}
• {{cite journal | last1 = Day | first1 = S. S. | last2 = Ward | first2 = H. H. | year = 1998 | title = Sexual networks: The integration of social and genetic data | journal = Social Science & Medicine | volume = 47 | issue = 12| pages = 1981–92 | doi=10.1016/s0277-9536(98)00306-2| pmid = 10075241 }}
• Nyanzi, S., Nyanzi, B., Kalina, B., & Pool, R. (n.d). [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13691050310001658208 Mobility, sexual networks and exchange among bodabodamen in southwest Uganda]. Taylor & Francis Ltd. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
• {{cite journal |title=Social and sexual networks: Their role in the spread of HIV/AIDS among young gay men |last1=Morris |first1=Martina |last2=Zavisca |first2=Jane |last3=Dean |first3=Laura |journal=AIDS Education and Prevention |volume=7 |issue=Suppl |year=1995 |pages=24–35 |pmid=8664095 }}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050130034753/http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/chains.htm Researchers map the sexual network of an entire high school]
• [http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24937/ Patterns of prostitution captured in social network]

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Category:Social networks

Category:Epidemiology

Category:Sexuality and society

Category:Sexual health