Cohesion and decentralization in the social media dynamics of vulnerable panamanian youth

Abstract

The present study employed Social Network Analysis (SNA) to identify youth leaders at social risk and strengthen social innovation programs. Under a post-positivist paradigm and a mixed methodological design (descriptive-correlational, non-experimental, cross-sectional), 42 young individuals (14-25 years old) from a Panamanian sports club exposed to violence and delinquency were investigated. Qualitative data were collected through surveys, and the structure of the networks was quantitatively analyzed using SNA and graph theory (UCINET/NetDraw). The results showed convergence between peer-identified leaders and those with high centrality (especially betweenness), patterns of subgroups and cohesion, revealing dynamics of influence and risks of exclusion. The qualitative analysis enriched the interpretation, highlighting social capital and trust for resilience and violence prevention. Replication of the methodology is recommended to validate findings and adjust interventions. It is concluded that the integration of SNA offers a comprehensive perspective for designing social innovation programs, identifying how the cohesion and decentralization of influence can enhance youth leadership and the positive transformation of their environments.