18 Chapter 1 could influence (mental) health: (1) social influence or comparison (i.e., a person’s health behaviors are influenced positively or negatively by their network members through observation and comparison), (2) social control (i.e., a person’s health behaviors are positively influenced by formal and informal network members through active encouragement and persuasion, but can be negatively influenced if social control is perceived as invasive), (3) role-based purpose and meaning (i.e., a person’s health behaviors are influenced by their commitment and obligations towards network members as well as by their perceived value or meaning to others), (4) self-esteem (i.e., a person’s positive evaluation of role fulfillment will increase self-esteem, which positively influences mental health), (5) sense of control (i.e., a person’s positive role fulfillment will increase a sense of control over one’s life, which positively influences mental health), (6) belonging and companionship (i.e., connections to and participation in activities with informal and formal network members lead to feelings of belonging and companionship, producing positive affect, which enhances mental health), and (7) perceived support availability (i.e., emotional, informational, and instrumental support from informal and formal network members directly influences mental health as well as indirectly influences mental health through self-esteem, and a sense of control and meaning to others) (Thoits, 2011). It was suggested that these mechanisms can be used to explain both positive and negative effects of social network factors on mental health outcomes. Furthermore, it was discussed that many of these mechanisms can be used to explain how social support impacts a person’s response to stressful events. Both positive and negative effects of social network factors on mental health outcomes have extensively been demonstrated in empirical research (Cohen & Wills, 1985; Harandi, Taghinasab, & Nayeri, 2017; Heaney & Israel, 2008; Kawachi & Berkman, 2001; Schön, Denhov, & Topor, 2009). However, the relationship between social network factors and mental health is considered complex, as the evidence varies across populations and life stages (Kawachi & Berkman, 2001). Moreover, effects vary across different types of social network factors (i.e., structural and functional characteristics). For example, a recent study showed that higher functional social support (i.e., the perceived availability of network members providing support), in particular, was related to decreased depressive symptoms in a general male population (Almquist, Landstedt, & Hammarström, 2017). In contrast, a lack of social support as well as smaller social networks could negatively influence mental health outcomes. Negative effects on mental wellbeing among males were found in those experiencing a lack of trustworthy members and demanding members in their social network (Antonucci,
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