Gender differences regarding peer influence and attitude toward substance abuse

Gender role socialization differentially influences attitudes toward substance abuse for boys and girls. Students (n = 968, 456 = males, M age = 16.20, SD = 1.20) were administered a questionnaire to assess their perceptions of attitudes toward substance abuse. Boys' approval was significantly different than the level of approval estimated for girls on teenagers drinking beer or wine coolers chi 2 (4,n = 931) = 418.58, p < .00001, drinking hard liquor chi 2 (4,n = 921) = 432.49, p < .00001, driving after drinking chi 2 (4,n = 924) = 492.32, p < .00001, smoking marijuana chi 2 (4,n = 921) = 609.62, p < .00001, smoking cigarettes chi 2 (4,n = 927) = 480.35, p < .00001, taking diet pills to lose weight chi 2 (4,n = 914) = 185.05, p < .00001, and taking diet pills to get high chi 2 (4,n = 921) = 428.43, p < .00001. Teens viewed getting drunk at a party as more acceptable than driving after drinking 2 (4,n = 921) = 264.10, p < .00001, but gave boys more approval than girls for driving after drinking. Possible implications of these findings are discussed.