Social network inequalities and health impacts: socioeconomic, geographic, and migration-related dimensions (NetHealth)

The project revolves around two main questions: (1) how and to what extent different characteristics of local and global social networks vary systematically between social groups, defined on the basis of socioeconomic status, geography of residential location, and migration status; (2) whether and to what degree group differences in social networks explain inequalities in health-related beliefs, behaviors, and outcomes between socioeconomic, geographic, and migration-status groups. We focus on the context of Lombardy, one of the largest and socio- demographically most diverse areas of Italy and Europe. In a sequential mixed-methods design, the project will collect quantitative and qualitative data in population groups with different socioeconomic status, living in areas with different degrees of urbanization, and including first- generation migrants, migrant descendants (second generations), and the non-migrant ethnic majority.