[1] While an explicit conceptualization of duocentric social networks appeared for the first time in an academic publication in 2008,[2] the history of the analysis dates back to at least the 1950s[3] and has spanned the fields of psychology, sociology, and health.
Egocentric analyses have been used in a wide range of fields, including physical health,[6] psychopathology,[7] family studies,[8] and intimate relationships.
First, it reduces “respondent inaccuracy” in reporting network contacts, which will be more prevalent in less well socially connected individuals.
Second, the technique reduces “unit non-response," which is the failure of an eligible study participant to respond or provide enough information to deem the response statistically usable.
[14] Because the focus of a duocentered network is only two individuals rather than a larger group, it will ostensibly be easier to gather usable information.
Coromina et al. did not take this approach because of the respondent inaccuracy and unit non-response bias that similarly affect sociocentric analyses.
[28] Additionally, one finding suggests that more equal numbers of each partner's family contained in the overlapping network is associated with higher marital satisfaction for heterosexual couples.
However, evidence from duocentric analyses suggest that discord with in-laws predicts lower satisfaction, commitment, and stability in marriages over time.
[23] Additionally, support and approval from the social network tends to be associated with higher commitment and marital satisfaction.
[35] More peripheral overlapping ties (i.e., those to whom the couple is less close) was associated with lower rates of mental health disorders.
Genetics, sex (same- or opposite-sex), age, and relationship intimacy affected rates of peer overlap.
[1] However, the time and cost of this form of data collection has led researchers to use less stringent techniques to gather information on a dyadic network.
[45] The risk of unprotected sex was higher to the degree that sexual partners knew other members of the youth's social network.