  The aims: (i) analyze connectivity between subgroups of university students,
(ii) assess which bridges of relational contacts are essential for connecting
or disconnecting subgroups and (iii) to explore the similarities between the
attributes of the subgroup nodes in relation to the pandemic context. During
the COVID-19 pandemic, young university students have experienced significant
changes in their relationships, especially in the halls of residence. Previous
research has shown the importance of relationship structure in contagion
processes. However, there is a lack of studies in the university setting, where
students live closely together. The case study methodology was applied to carry
out a descriptive study. The participation consisted of 43 university students
living in the same hall of residence. Social network analysis has been applied
for data analysis. Factions and Girvan Newman algorithms have been applied to
detect the existing cohesive subgroups. The UCINET tool was used for the
calculation of the SNA measure. A visualization of the global network will be
carried out using Gephi software. After applying the Girvan-Newman and
Factions, in both cases it was found that the best division into subgroups was
the one that divided the network into 4 subgroups. There is high degree of
cohesion within the subgroups and a low cohesion between them. The relationship
between subgroup membership and gender was significant. The degree of COVID-19
infection is related to the degree of clustering between the students. College
students form subgroups in their residence. Social network analysis facilitates
an understanding of structural behavior during the pandemic. The study provides
evidence on the importance of gender, race and the building where they live in
creating network structures that favor, or not, contagion during a pandemic.
