Table 5.

Narrative explanations of HLM models investigating Social Network Factors and Alter SNS/Technology Use and Gender Status

Model contingency on alter tech use and alter gender status	NARRATIVE EXPLANATIONS OF MODEL FINDINGS*
HIV RISK BEHAVIORS OUTCOME
No technology use; Cisgender alters	No theoretically explanatory variables reached statistical significance. Cisgender alters not communicating with ego via technology demonstrated no behavioral similarities with ego.
No technology use; Transgender alters	The longer ego has known a transgender alter with whom they do not communicate via technology, the more likely they are to engage in HIV risk. If that transgender alter was perceived to also be engaged in HIV risk behavior, the effect was mitigated.
Technology use; Cisgender alters	Increased perception of engagement in HIV risk by cisgender alters with whom ego communicates via technology was associated with increased HIV risk behaviors by ego. The effect was somewhat mitigated as the density of ego’s network increased.
Technology use; Transgender alters	Increased perception of engagement in HIV risk by transgender alters with whom ego communicates via technology was associated with increased HIV risk behaviors by ego.
HIV PROTECTIVE BEHAVIORS OUTCOME
No technology use; Cisgender alters	The greater the size of ego’s network, the more likely ego was to engage in HIV protective behaviors. Further, as the density of the alters engaged in HIV protective behaviors increased, ego was more likely to engage in HIV protective behaviors.
No technology use; Transgender alters	Egos with larger, more dense, and longer-lasting networks that include transgender alters were more likely to engage in HIV protective behaviors. The effect was somewhat mitigated for transgender alters engaged in HIV protective behaviors who ego has known longest.
Technology use; Cisgender alters	Increased perception of engagement in HIV protective behaviors by cisgender alters with whom ego communicates via technology was associated with increased HIV protective behaviors by ego. The effect was somewhat mitigated as the density of ego’s network increased.
Technology use; Transgender alters	As alters who were perceived to engage in protective behaviors evidenced more dense connections, ego was less likely to engage in protective behaviors.

^*Note: Narrative explanations are focused on social network theory and do not include associations with known constructs of age, homelessness or education.