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Having the wrong friends? Peer effects in adolescent substance use.
1Lund University Centre for Health Economics (LUCHE), P.O. Box 705, 220 07 Lund, Sweden. petter.lundborg@luche.lu.se
Journal of Health Economics
|June 21, 2005
Summary
Peer influence significantly increases adolescent binge drinking, smoking, and illicit drug use. These peer effects are even stronger when accounting for two-way influences between friends.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Peer influence is a critical factor in adolescent behavior.
- Understanding peer effects in substance use is vital for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze school-class based peer effects on adolescent binge drinking, smoking, and illicit drug use.
- To address potential biases in estimating peer effects.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Swedish cross-sectional survey data from individuals aged 12-18.
- Employed school/grade fixed effects to identify peer effects within school-classes.
- Controlled for endogeneity bias due to bi-directional peer influence.
Main Results:
- Significant and positive peer effects were observed for binge drinking, smoking, and illicit drug use.
- Controlling for endogeneity strengthened the estimated peer effects for binge drinking and smoking.
- School/grade fixed effects mitigated bias from endogenous student sorting.
Conclusions:
- Peer behavior strongly influences adolescent substance use.
- Addressing reciprocal peer influence is crucial for accurate assessment.
- Findings support targeted interventions within school environments.