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Popularity as a Moderator of Peer Selection and Socialization of Adolescent Alcohol, Marijuana, and Tobacco Use
Author(s) -
Mathys Cécile,
Burk William J.,
Cillessen Antonius H. N.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of research on adolescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.342
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1532-7795
pISSN - 1050-8392
DOI - 10.1111/jora.12031
Subject(s) - popularity , psychology , moderation , socialization , friendship , developmental psychology , peer group , alcohol , peer influence , clinical psychology , social psychology , chemistry , biochemistry
This study examined prospective associations between late adolescents’ friendships and substance use (alcohol, marijuana, tobacco) using a stochastic actor‐based modeling approach and the moderating role of popularity. Participants were 450 adolescents (53% female, M age = 15.5 years) who completed surveys in grades 10 and 11. Results of a single multivariate model indicated that peer selection based on similar tobacco use was a more robust predictor of changes in friendship than selection based on similar alcohol and marijuana use; and peer socialization of alcohol use predicted more changes in adolescent‐drinking behaviors. Popularity moderated selection based on alcohol use; popular adolescents were more likely to select friends with high levels of drinking behaviors. Popularity did not moderate peer socialization.