networks
Definition
Networks refers to idiographic (person-specific) psychological systems that map associations and temporal dynamics among variables such as symptoms, emotions, cognition, and behavior over time using intensive longitudinal data. These networks capture lagged relationships—the predicted relationships between a variable at one time point and variables at the next time point—allowing clinicians and researchers to identify potential vicious cycles and risk factors within an individual's psychological system. Contemporary approaches extend beyond static network structures to examine how networks change over time and, critically, which contextual or moderating factors drive these changes, including how moderators influence both the connections between variables and the innovation structure (variability due to unobserved factors). Such moderated idiographic networks offer personalized clinical utility by revealing not only when network changes occur but also why they occur, thereby guiding targeted interventions and identifying factors that can improve outcomes.
Sources: Bringmann et al. (2024)
Related Terms
Applications
Networks and Clinical Intervention
Networks in clinical practice are employed to identify associations among psychological variables that guide therapeutic decision-making. Understanding how contextual factors moderate network dynamics provides guidance on which factors can help in improving a patient's psychological state and when clinical intervention is needed.
Sources: Bringmann et al. (2024)
Networks and Intensive Longitudinal Data
Idiographic psychological networks are increasingly employed in clinical practice based on intensive longitudinal data. This temporal data collection enables researchers and clinicians to observe changes in mood, behavior, and cognition and to model these changes as a primary focus of analysis.
Sources: Bringmann et al. (2024)
