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1Prevention Research Branch, Division of Statistics, Epidemiology, and Prevention Research, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7510, USA. mortonb@mail.nih.gov
American Journal of Health Behavior
|August 19, 2007
Summary
Adolescent substance use influences friend choices, and friends influence adolescent use. Positive parenting practices protect teens by reducing substance-using friends, demonstrating selection and socialization effects.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Health
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- Adolescent substance use is a significant public health concern.
- Peer influence and parenting practices are critical factors in adolescent development.
- Understanding the interplay between these factors is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the longitudinal associations between adolescent substance use, peer substance use, and parenting practices.
- To investigate the directionality of influence between adolescent substance use and substance-using peers.
- To explore the mediating role of peer influence in the relationship between parenting and adolescent substance use.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 2453 middle school students surveyed five times from sixth to ninth grade.
- Data collection included self-reports on smoking, drinking, marijuana use, number of substance-using friends, and parenting practices.
- Latent growth curve modeling was employed to analyze the over-time relationships.
Main Results:
- Adolescent substance use predicted an increase in substance-using friends, and vice versa, except for smoking.
- A negative over-time relationship was observed between parenting practices and adolescent substance use.
- The positive effects of parenting practices on reducing adolescent substance use were mediated by a lower growth in the number of substance-using friends.
Conclusions:
- Findings support both selection (adolescents choose friends with similar behaviors) and socialization (friends influence adolescent behaviors) effects.
- Positive parenting practices demonstrate a protective effect against adolescent substance use.
- Interventions should consider both peer dynamics and parenting strategies to mitigate adolescent substance use.
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