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DANGEROUS LIAISONS? DATING AND DRINKING DIFFUSION IN ADOLESCENT PEER NETWORKS
Derek A Kreager1, Dana L Haynie2
1Pennsylvania State University.
American Sociological Review
|October 21, 2014
Summary
Adolescent romantic partners act as bridges, spreading alcohol use through peer networks. Friends of partners significantly influence drinking behaviors more than one's own peers.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Adolescent Health
- Network Analysis
Background:
- Alcohol consumption and romantic relationships are key adolescent developmental milestones.
- Sociological inquiry is increasingly examining the intersection of these domains.
- Understanding drinking behavior diffusion in peer networks is crucial for adolescent well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how romantic relationships facilitate the spread of alcohol use within adolescent social networks.
- To test the 'liaison hypothesis' regarding romantic partners as network bridges.
- To identify the impact of partners' and friends-of-partners' drinking on individual drinking patterns.
Main Methods:
- Utilized longitudinal data from 459 couples in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.
- Employed Actor-Partner Interdependence Models to analyze drinking behaviors.
- Examined the influence of partners' drinking, friends' drinking, and friends-of-partners' drinking.
Main Results:
- Findings support the liaison hypothesis, indicating romantic partners connect individuals to new peer contexts.
- Friends-of-partners' drinking demonstrated significant associations with adolescent drinking patterns.
- The influence of friends-of-partners' drinking on behavior was greater than that of one's own peers and less susceptible to selection bias.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent romantic relationships serve as significant conduits for the diffusion of drinking behaviors.
- Interventions targeting peer networks should consider the role of romantic partners in behavior change.
- Understanding network dynamics is essential for addressing emergent problem behaviors in adolescents.
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