One Bad Apple May Not Spoil the Whole Bunch: Best Friends and Adolescent Delinquency

Changes in self-control during adolescence: Investigating the influence of the adolescent peer network

“…For example, future research could focus upon the influence of individual peers as opposed to the entire peer network. Previous research suggests that "best friends" may have a unique influence on individual behavior beyond that of "regular friends" (Rees & Pogarsky, 2011;Weerman & Smeenk, 2005). As such, it is possible that best friends may uniquely influence self-control.…”

Moderators of the association between peer and target adolescent substance use

“…However, there was little evidence supporting this hypothesis, with only a few studies showing that best friends had a strong influence on adolescents' alcohol use (Jackson, 1997;Urberg, et al, 1997), whereas other studies found only trivial or no effects (Bot, et al, 2005;Jaccard, et al, 2005;Larsen, et al, 2010). More consistent findings were noted in studies assessing association with a group of friends (Bahr, et al, 2005;Rees & Pogarsky, 2010;Wills & Dishion, 2004). The significant effect of peer association, assessed by considering a larger group of friends, has also been supported by studies examining other adolescent behaviors such as risky sexual behaviors (see Bearman & Brückner, 1999).…”

“…First, in most studies, peers were defined as either "the best friend" or a group of friends. Studies that relied on the best friend (Bot, et al, 2005;Branstetter, et al, 2011;De Kemp, Scholte, Overbeek, & Engels, 2006;Henry, Kobus, & Schoeny, 2011;Jackson, 1997;Larsen, et al, 2010;Rees & Pogarsky, 2010;Sieving, et al, 2000) did so because it was hypothesized that this friend usually shared a more intense and intimate relationship with the target and thus had a stronger influence (Rybak & McAndrew, 2006). However, there was little evidence supporting this hypothesis, with only a few studies showing that best friends had a strong influence on adolescents' alcohol use (Jackson, 1997;Urberg, et al, 1997), whereas other studies found only trivial or no effects (Bot, et al, 2005;Jaccard, et al, 2005;Larsen, et al, 2010).…”

“…One alternative consists in asking target adolescents to nominate and list their friends, whom will then be contacted individually and asked to report on their own substance use. The number of friends nominated usually varies from one (Branstetter, et al, 2011) to between five and ten (Henry, et al, 2011;Jaccard, et al, 2005;Larsen, et al, 2010;Rees & Pogarsky, 2010;Urberg, et al, 1997;Urberg, et al, 2003). This extra procedure also helps reduce bias because adolescents have been found to misestimate their friends' and peers' substance use (Henry, et al, 2011;Iannotti & Bush, 1992;Prinstein & Wang, 2005).…”

Going Along to Get Along? Interpersonal Processes and Girls' Delinquency

“…Although it is well-documented that affiliating with a deviant peer group increases the propensity to enact delinquent behavior for males and females (Dishion, Andrews, & Crosby, 1995;Rees & Pogarsky, 2011;Sullivan, 2006;Warr, 2002), interpersonal relationships, especially friendships and romantic partnerships, may be particularly salient influences on girls' delinquency (Steffensmeier & Allan, 1996). Girls' strong relational orientation leads to an emphasis on close, emotional ties, with high value placed on interpersonal connectedness in relationships (Gore et al, 1993;Maccoby, 1998;Mehta & Strough, 2010;Zahn-Waxler et al, 2005).…”