Progress in research on health-related behavioral contagion among adolescents based on social networks: a review

Individual behavior is significantly influenced by the surrounding social environment. Health-related behaviors among adolescents not only affect their lifelong health but may also result in behavioral contagion within social networks. This paper reviews advancements in the studies of health-related behavioral contagion among adolescents from the perspectives of observational and intervention research, providing new insights for intervention and prevention strategies targeting health-related behaviors in Chinese adolescents. The analysis identifies several current challenges, including difficulties in obtaining comprehensive longitudinal social network data, a predominant focus on individual behaviors, limitations in data analysis methods, and a lack of effective intervention strategies. China remains in the exploratory phase in this field, which underscores the urgent need for more in-depth research.