Effects of Peer Influence and Peer Selection on Substance Use

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the transitions between tobacco (T), cannabis (C) and other illicit drugs (OIDs) initiations, to simultaneously explore several substance use theories: gateway theory (GT), common liability model (CLM) and route of administration model (RAM). Methods: Data from 2 French nationwide surveys conducted in 2005 and 2010 were used (16,421 subjects aged 18-34). Using reported ages at initiations, we reconstituted a retrospective cohort describing all initiation sequences between T, C and OID. Transition probabilities between the substances were computed using a Markov multi-state model that also tested the effect of 2 latent variables (item response theory scores reflecting propensity for early onset and further substance use) on all transitions. Results: T initiation was associated with increased likelihood of subsequent C initiation, but the reverse relationship was also observed. While the most likely initiation sequence among subjects who initiated the 3 groups of substances was the ‘gateway' sequence T → C → OID, this pattern was not associated with substance use propensity more than alternative sequences. Early use propensity was associated with the ‘gateway' sequence but also with some alternative ones beginning with T, C or OID. Conclusion: If the gateway sequence appears as the most likely pattern, in line with GT, the effects of early onset and substance use propensities were also observed for some alternative sequences, which is more in line with CLM. RAM could explain reciprocal interactions observed between T and C. This suggests shared influences of individual (personality traits) and environmental (substance availability, peer influence) characteristics.

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How can today’s substance-using youth be helped to quit? Perspectives of college students from Bangalore, India

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0020764020916745 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 66 (5) ◽

pp. 469-475 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Padmavathy Doraiswamy ◽

Prasanthi Nattala ◽

Pratima Murthy

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Substance Use ◽

Peer Influence ◽

College Youth ◽

Academic Pressure ◽

Patterns Of Use ◽

Group Interviews ◽

Gender Based ◽

College Student Population ◽

Perceived Reasons

Background: Substance use among college students is increasing, yet research regarding their viewpoints on how they can be helped is sparse in India. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore in depth the perspectives of college students as to how college youth can be helped to quit the use of psychoactive substances. Method: Data from focus group interviews with 38 adolescent college students were analyzed qualitatively to identify their viewpoints on how today’s college youth can be helped to quit substance use. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, themes and subthemes were identified. Results: Three major themes (with subthemes) were identified: (1) Patterns of use (commonly used substances, methods of using), (2) Perceived reasons for use (to reduce negative emotions, academic pressure, peer influence, more freedom, rebellious attitudes, media influence, modeling effect, childhood trauma, distrust from family/friends, lack of knowledge regarding the adverse impact of substances, poor life skills, cultural gender-based discrimination) and (3) Interventions needed to help college youth to quit substance use (need for interventions, basic principles to follow when developing interventions, content to be included, methods to be employed for delivering the intervention). Conclusion: The information from this study can guide the development of a comprehensive intervention that is relevant and tailor-made to the specific needs of the college student population.

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Perceived peer influence and peer selection on adolescent smoking

Addictive Behaviors ◽

10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.11.016 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 32 (8) ◽

pp. 1546-1554 ◽

Cited By ~ 93

Author(s):

Beth R. Hoffman ◽

Peter R. Monge ◽

Chih-Ping Chou ◽

Thomas W. Valente

Keyword(s):

Peer Influence ◽

Adolescent Smoking ◽

Peer Selection

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Linking Peer Relationships to Substance Use Across Adolescence

The Oxford Handbook of Adolescent Substance Abuse ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199735662.013.019 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 388-420 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kelly Rulison ◽

Megan E. Patrick ◽

Jennifer Maggs

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Peer Relationships ◽

Peer Influence ◽

Peer Pressure ◽

Causal Link ◽

Social Processes ◽

Conclusive Evidence ◽

Social Motives ◽

The Social ◽

Research Questions

The development of substance use during adolescence occurs against a backdrop of considerable changes in the social context, but these simultaneous changes alone are not conclusive evidence of a strong causal link between peers and drug use. Clarifying how peers shape the development of substance use is difficult because researchers often do not distinguish between different peer relationships (e.g., friendships, groups, networks), different social processes within these relationships (e.g., direct peer pressure, normative regulation, modeling), or adolescents’ own social motives and perceptions. The chapter discusses how peer relationships change across adolescence, how social processes within different relationships might contribute to substance use, and the methodological challenges that researchers face when documenting these contributions. The chapter also highlights how studies could better match the complexity of research questions about peer influence with appropriate data collection and analytic strategies.

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The Assessment of Peer Selection and Peer Environmental Influences on Behavior Using Pairs of Siblings or Twins

Twin Research ◽

10.1375/twin.5.1.38 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 38-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Pamela A. F. Madden ◽

Kathleen K. Bucholz ◽

Alexandre A. Todorov ◽

Julia D. Grant ◽

Andrew C. Heath

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Problem Behaviors ◽

Environmental Effects ◽

Environmental Influences ◽

Peer Influences ◽

Selection Effects ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significance Level ◽

Peer Selection ◽

Patterns Of Behavior

AbstractMany studies have found strong peer correlations for a variety of problem behaviors that begin in adolescence (e.g. substance use). Such correlations are commonly attributed to peer influences, but could also be explained by selective (‘assortative’) friendship: the tendency for those with similar patterns of behavior to become friends. Here we show how, under certain assumptions, cross-sectional data from pairs of siblings or twins and their peers may be used to resolve the contributions of peer selection and reciprocal peer environmental influences to peer resemblance. We performed power calculations to determine necessary sample sizes for rejecting with 80% power, at the 5% significance level, the hypothesis of only peer selection effects, or only reciprocal peer environmental effects. A false hypothesis of only selective friendship effects was always easier to reject than a false hypothesis of only reciprocal peer environmental influences. Limitations of these simulations, including uncertainty about the most appropriate way to model peer selection, are discussed.

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Peer influence in adolescent drinking behavior: A meta-analysis of stochastic actor-based modeling studies

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0250169 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. e0250169

Author(s):

Valeria Ivaniushina ◽

Vera Titkova

Keyword(s):

Peer Influence ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Drinking Behavior ◽

Selection Effect ◽

Parameter Estimates ◽

Effective Prevention ◽

Peer Selection ◽

Influence Effect ◽

Log Odds

Objectives To measure the effects of peer influence and peer selection on drinking behavior in adolescence through a rigorous statistical approach designed to unravel these interrelated processes. Methods We conducted systematic searches of electronic databases, thesis collections and conference proceedings to identify studies that used longitudinal network design and stochastic actor-oriented modeling to analyze drinking behavior in adolescents. Parameter estimates collected from individual studies were analyzed using multilevel random-effects models. Results We identified 26 articles eligible for meta-analysis. Meta-analyses for different specifications of the peer influence effect were conducted separately. The peer influence effect was positive for every specification: for average similarity (avSim) mean log odds ratio was 1.27 with 95% confidence interval [0.04; 2.49]; for total similarity (totSim) 0.46 (95% CI = [0.44; 0.48]), and for average alter (avAlt) 0.70 (95% CI = [-0.01; 1.41]). The peer selection effect (simX) was also positive: 0.46 (95% CI = [0.28; 0.63]). Conversion log odds ratio values to Cohen’s d gives estimates from 0.25 to 0.70, which is considered as medium to large effect. Conclusions Advances in methodology for social network analysis have made it possible to accurately estimate peer influence effects free from peer selection effects. More research is necessary to clarify the roles of age, gender, and individual susceptibility on the changing behavior of adolescents under the influence of their peers. Understanding the effects of peer influence should inform practitioners and policy makers to design and deliver more effective prevention programs.

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Peer influence processes as mediators of effects of a middle school substance use prevention program

Addictive Behaviors ◽

10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.06.016 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 85 ◽

pp. 180-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mark J. Van Ryzin ◽

Cary J. Roseth

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Substance Use ◽

Peer Influence ◽

Prevention Program ◽

Substance Use Prevention

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Drivers of Substance Use and Related Disorders Among Young People in a Peri-urban District of Ghana

10.21203/rs.3.rs-989406/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vida Kasore ◽

Enoch Acheampong ◽

Frances Emily Owusu-Ansah ◽

Mark Owusu ◽

Ampeh Unity Worlanyo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Abuse ◽

Substance Use ◽

Peer Influence ◽

Role Models ◽

National Development ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Urban District ◽

Written Form ◽

Psychiatric Issue ◽

Perceived Effects

Abstract Background: Substance use-related disorders have become a major psychiatric issue globally. The energetic youth who contribute meaningfully to national development are the most affected population by this social menace. This study aimed to examine the knowledge and perception of the youth on substance use-related disorders and the perceived effects on their lives.Methods: The study used a qualitative approach to explore the perceptions of substance use-related disorders in the Kwabre-East Municipality of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The purposive technique was used to select 35 participants based on a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data were gathered through focus group discussions and interviews in the Twi language and audio-recorded. Data were transcribed from Twi to English in a written form. The data were categorized into themes based on similarities and differences. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The emerged themes have been presented as main findings, which are supported by quotations from the participants. Results: The study identified that substances commonly abused by the youth were alcohol, tramadol, gasoline product, glue, and marijuana. Again, it was found that peer influence, poor parental control, and loss of a job (poverty), perceived academic enhancement, and imitation of role models were factors that caused substance abuse among the youth. In addition, the following were identified in terms of the effects: mental illness, cardiovascular conditions, family exclusion, insecurity, and stigmatization.Conclusion: The initiation and implementation of drug preventive interventions by relevant stakeholders are crucial in preventing the commencement of any undesirable behaviour among the youth as far as substance abuse is concerned.

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