PEER GROUP INFLUENCES UPON ADOLESCENT DRINKING PRACTICES

Abstract

Utilizing longitudinal data on 345 high school students, this study investigates the impact that peer identification, sociability, activity, and perceptions of peer attitudes governing the use of alcohol have upon adolescent alcohol use, and the likelihood of experiencing personal problems as a consequence of drinking. The major findings are that adolescent orientations toward alcohol are responsive to all but peer identification, and that the predictors generally exert their strongest influences upon youthful drinking in and around the junior year. Similarly, alcohol use and personal problems associated with drinking each exert varying degrees of influence upon the predictors within and across time, though these effects generally cluster around the junior year as well.