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Estimating peer effects in sexual behavior among adolescents.
1Department of Economics, University of Toledo, 2801 W Bancroft Street, University Hall 4110H MS 922, Toledo, OH 43606-3390, USA. mir.ali3@utoledo.edu
Journal of Adolescence
|January 5, 2010
Summary
Peer influence significantly impacts adolescent sexual behavior. A 10% rise in friends initiating sex or having multiple partners increases an individual's likelihood of initiating sex by 5%.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Public Health
- Adolescent Psychology
Background:
- Peer social networks play a critical role in shaping adolescent behaviors.
- Understanding peer influence is crucial for developing effective public health interventions.
- Previous research often struggled to isolate peer influence from other factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically quantify the impact of peer social networks on adolescent sexual behavior.
- To differentiate the influence of close friends versus classmates on sexual initiation.
- To address potential biases in estimating peer influence using advanced statistical methods.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a nationally representative sample of adolescents.
- Employed a multivariate structural model with school-level fixed effects.
- Incorporated peer group measures from both close friends and classmates, controlling for demographic and parental factors.
Main Results:
- A 10% increase in close friends initiating sex correlated with a 5% increase in an individual initiating sex.
- A 10% increase in the number of sexual partners among close friends correlated with a 5% increase in an individual's sexual partners.
- Classmate influence showed diminished significance after accounting for unobserved environmental confounders.
Conclusions:
- Close peer relationships exert a measurable influence on adolescent sexual behavior.
- Interventions targeting peer groups may be effective in influencing sexual health outcomes.
- The methodology employed helps to provide more robust estimates of peer effects in sensitive behaviors.
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