Abstract Details

Title Social Networks in Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis are Associated with Less Negative Peer Pressure

Topic Multiple Sclerosis

Presentation(s) P18 - Poster Session 18 (5:30 PM-6:30 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 12-002

Objective To analyze social networks in children with pediatric-onset MS (POMS) compared to healthy adolescents (HCs).

Background In adult-onset multiple sclerosis (AOMS), smaller and close-knit social networks have been associated with worsened physical function.

Design/Methods We developed a pediatric version of an established questionnaire used to evaluate social networks in AOMS. We asked participants (81 adolescents: 48 POMS, 33 HCs) to identify persons with whom they discuss important matters and included questions related to peer pressure. To establish internal validity, we deployed the questionnaire to a focus group of ten HCs before extending to our study cohort. Using graph theoretical statistics, we calculated three structural metrics for each individual’s social network: size (number of network members, excluding the participant), maximum degree (highest number of ties by a network member), and mean degree (average number of ties by a network member). We assessed differences between groups using two-tailed student t-tests.

Results Among POMS, mean age was 18 years (±4.5); 74% female; median grade: college freshman. For HCs, average age was 19 years (±2.1); 67% female; median grade: college sophomore. POMS have smaller average networks (POMS: 13.1, HC: 16.1, p=0.03) and smaller mean degrees within their networks (POMS: 4.5, HC: 5.4, p=0.01). HCs reported a greater proportion of network members who encourage them to use marijuana and alcohol compared to POMS (p<0.001). In a composite score assessing negative health behaviors (staying out past curfew, skipping class, not completing homework, using marijuana and alcohol, eating junk food), HCs reported higher proportion of network members encouraging negative behaviors (POMS: 0.03, HC: 0.075, p=0.04).

Conclusions

Unlike AOMS, where smaller social networks associate with isolation and reduced health outcomes, we found that the smaller networks of our POMS cohort were preferentially inhabited by positive peer influences. Our future work will explore whether these smaller networks associate with better quality of life.

Authors/Disclosures
Micky K. Bacchus (The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) PRESENTER	Miss Bacchus has nothing to disclose.
Wendy S. Vargas, MD (Sanofi)	Dr. Vargas has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Sanofi.
	No disclosure on file
Seth N. Levin, MD (Biogen)	Dr. Levin has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Biogen. Dr. Levin has received stock or an ownership interest from Biogen.
Kaho Onomichi	Kaho Onomichi has nothing to disclose.
Philip De Jager, MD, PhD (Columbia University Irving Medical Center)	Dr. De Jager has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Puretech. Dr. De Jager has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for roche. Dr. De Jager has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for biogen. The institution of Dr. De Jager has received research support from roche. The institution of Dr. De Jager has received research support from puretech.
Brenda L. Banwell, MD, FAAN (Johns Hopkins University)	Dr. Banwell has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Novartis. Dr. Banwell has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving as a Consultant for UCB. Dr. Banwell has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Roche. Dr. Banwell has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Janssen. Dr. Banwell has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Genentech. Dr. Banwell has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Novartis. The institution of Dr. Banwell has received research support from National MS Society. The institution of Dr. Banwell has received research support from NIH.

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