Reprint of: The myth of conformity: Adolescents and abstention from unhealthy drinking behaviors

Carter Rees, Danielle Wallace

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Adolescent peer groups with pro-drinking group norms are a well-established source of influence for alcohol initiation and use. However, classic experimental studies of social influence, namely 'minority influence', clearly indicate social situations in which an individual can resist conforming to the group norm. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health ("Add Health"), a nationally representative sample of adolescents, we find evidence that being a non-drinking adolescent does not unilaterally put youth at risk for drinking onset when faced with a friendship network where the majority of friends drink. Our results also show that a non-drinking adolescent with a majority of drinking friends is significantly less likely to initiate alcohol abuse if he or she has a minority of non-drinking friend(s). Furthermore, a drinking adolescent with a majority of friends who drink has a decreased probability of continuing to drink and has overall lower levels of consumption if he or she has a minority of friends who do not drink. Our findings recognize that adolescent in-group friendships are a mix of behavioral profiles and can perhaps help adolescents continue or begin to abstain alcohol use even when in a friendship group supportive of alcohol use.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)151-162
Number of pages12
JournalSocial Science and Medicine
Volume125
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2015

Keywords

  • Adolescent drinking
  • Conformity
  • Dissent
  • Friendship networks
  • Minority influence
  • Social influence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • History and Philosophy of Science

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