Work

Impact of Homophily in Adherence to Anti-Epidemic Measures on the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Social Networks

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate how homophily in adherence to anti-epidemic measures affects the final size of epidemics in social networks. Using a modified SIR model, we divide agents into two behavioral groups-compliant and non-compliant-and introduce transmission probabilities that depend asymmetrically on the behavior of both the infected and susceptible individuals. We simulate epidemic dynamics on two types of synthetic networks with tunable inter-group connection probability: stochastic block models (SBM) and networks with triadic closure (TC) that better capture local clustering. Our main result reveals a counterintuitive effect: under conditions where compliant infected agents significantly reduce transmission, increasing the separation between groups may lead to a higher fraction of infections in the compliant population. This paradoxical outcome emerges only in networks with clustering (TC), not in SBM, suggesting that local network structure plays a crucial role. These findings highlight that increasing group separation does not always confer protection, especially when behavioral traits amplify within-group transmission.

Source: Entropy

DOI: 10.3390/e27101071

Authors: Piotr Bentkowski, Tomasz Gubiec

Institution: University of Warsaw

Language: English

Topic: Complex Network Analysis Techniques

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137