Predictors of Susceptibility to Peer Influence Regarding Substance Use in Adolescence

Abstract

The extent to which peer influences on substance use in adolescence systematically vary in strength based on qualities of the adolescent and his or her close friend was assessed in a study of 157 adolescents (Age: M = 13.35, SD = 0.64), their close friends and their parents assessed longitudinally with a combination of observational, analogue, sociometric, and self-report measures from early to mid-adolescence. The degree to which adolescents changed their levels of substance use in accord with their peers' baseline levels of use was predicted by a range of theoretically-salient factors including: observed teen lack of autonomy and social support in prior interactions with mothers, low teen refusal skills, and the level of social acceptance of their close friend. Findings suggest the importance of both internal factors (e.g., autonomy and relatedness struggles) and external factors (e.g., social status of friends) in explaining why vulnerability to peer influence processes may be much greater for some adolescents than others.

Maternal versus paternal physical and emotional abuse, affect regulation and risk for depression from adolescence to early adulthood

“…When emotional and physical abuse is part of the motheradolescent relationship, opportunities for support and learning are profoundly compromised, limiting adolescents' ability to manage emotional distress. It is possible that such deficits lead to compensatory attempts to regulate emotional distress through substance use or other risk-taking behaviors (e.g., Allen, Chango, Szwedo, Schad, & Marston, 2012).…”

Moderators of the association between peer and target adolescent substance use

“…More specifically, the association between peer alcohol use (peer reported) and target alcohol use one year later was greatest when friendships were close, with low levels of conflict and friendship quality was perceived to be moderate to high by the target (Urberg, Luo, Pilgrim, & Degirmencioglu, 2003). In another study by Allen, Chango, Szwedo, Schad, & Marston (2012) a stronger link between peer substance use at age 15 and targets' substance use at age 16 was found for targets with socially accepted peers (i.e. using a limited nomination sociometric procedure similar to those used to assess popularity) than lower accepted peers.…”

The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem: The Effects of Social Support and Subjective Well-Being on Adolescents’ Risky Behaviors

“…The importance of peer influences on antisocial behaviors in early adolescence has been supported in a number of studies (Dishion, 2000). Moreover, adolescents are more susceptible than adults to peer influence (Allen, Chango, Szwedo, Schad, & Marston, 2012). According to Jessor et al (1998), peer pressure has a greater effect on risk-taking behavior than family.…”