Dyads and diets: A social network analysis of cooking communally among incarcerated men in the Netherlands

Quantitative social network research in prison contexts has largely overlooked cooperative practices, such as communal cooking. Remarkable, since qualitative prison food studies identify communal cooking as an important activity through which social bonds are formed and resources are pooled. However, little is known about how cooking partnerships are structured and which factors shape them. This study addresses this gap by analysing cooking networks among 119 incarcerated men across three prison units in The Netherlands. Using social network analysis, the study examines whether financial resources, cooking skills, status and socio-demographic characteristics are associated with the likelihood of cooking together. Findings show that communal cooking is structured by trust, friendship, social similarity and status, rather than by resources or cooking skills as was shown in prior research. Based on our results, we argue that prison food provisions should consider the impact of their institutional arrangements on social organisation and how to actively promote collaboration and constructive social interaction.