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Popularity Trajectories and Substance Use in early Adolescence
James Moody1, Wendy D Brynildsen, D Wayne Osgood
1Duke Sociology.
Social Networks
|July 19, 2011
Summary
This study tracked middle school friendships over time, finding that social popularity and its changes are linked to substance use. Understanding these peer networks can inform interventions for adolescent well-being.
Area of Science:
- Social network analysis
- Adolescent psychology
- Public health
Background:
- Longitudinal social network data is crucial for understanding adolescent development.
- The "Promoting School-Community-University Partnerships to Enhance Resilience" (PROSPER) peers project provides a unique dataset.
- Previous research highlights the importance of peer influence on adolescent behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and describe novel longitudinal network data from the PROSPER peers project.
- To examine school popularity structures and individual changes in popularity.
- To investigate the relationship between popularity trajectories and substance use among adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Collected grade-level sociometric friendship nominations from two cohorts of middle school students (6th to 9th grade) across 28 communities.
- Analyzed cross-sectional and longitudinal network data to map social hierarchies and individual relational changes.
- Examined the association between popularity metrics (level and variability) and substance use patterns.
Main Results:
- The social network data reveals a hierarchical organization with significant individual-level changes in friendships and popularity.
- Adolescents experience considerable shifts in their social positions and peer group affiliations.
- Both an individual's baseline popularity and the stability of their popularity trajectory significantly influence substance use.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent social networks are dynamic, with popularity playing a key role in social structure.
- Popularity trajectories, not just static position, are associated with adolescent substance use.
- Findings underscore the need for interventions addressing social dynamics and peer influence in schools to mitigate substance use.
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