Exploring Contact Patterns Among Students via Social Network Analysis: A Cohort Study in Istanbul, Türkiye

Given the vital role of school students in infection transmission, this study examines contact patterns in a Turkish middle school using Social Network Analysis (SNA). We analysed three different grades on separate days in Istanbul, Türkiye, collecting face-to-face contact data via wireless sensors. This novel approach provides insights into factors influencing student interactions. Results show that students within the same class have more frequent and longer interactions than those from different classes. Notably, as grade levels increase, network modularity decreases, indicating that senior students form more connections across classes. Additionally, spatial proximity plays a role, as classrooms closer to each other exhibit more interactions, emphasizing the impact of school layout on contact patterns. These findings are highly relevant for infectious disease models and school-based intervention strategies during pandemics. By providing detailed quantitative metrics of student interactions, our study enhances understanding beyond conventional survey-based methods, offering a fine-grained perspective on social mixing in schools.