Effects of Peer Selection and Peer Influence on Adolescent Alcohol Use and Cigarette Smoking

Abstract

Objectives: This study was the first to investigate the role of peer selection and peer influence in adolescent alcohol use and cigarette smoking over three time periods.
 Methods: Panel data were collected from students in two middle schools in Gyeonggi province for three consecutive years. Starting from their 1st grade, the survey was conducted yearly through the 3rd grade. Social network data were collected by asking students to nominate their five best friends. Peer selection was operationally defined as the proportion of peers with drinking . smoking experiences of the peers a particular student selected as friends, and peer influence was operationally defined as the proportion of peers with drinking (smoking) experiences of the peers who selected a particular student as a friend. Lifetime alcohol use and cigarette smoking were measured.
 Results: Peer selection significantly impacted adolescent lifetime alcohol use and cigarette smoking. Selecting users as friends predicted drinking as well as smoking.
 Conclusion: The findings suggest that future adolescent substance abuse prevention programs need to include a stronger focus on peer group formation.