A Longitudinal Test of Social Learning Theory: Adolescent Smoking

Abstract

A general social learning theory of deviance is applied to adolescent smoking as a form of sustance use and tested with data from a 5-year longitudinal study of a panel (N=454) of respondents in grades 7 through 12 in an Iowa community. The major components of the process specified in the theory are differential association, differential reinforcement, definitions (attitudes), and modeling. The process is one in which the operation of these variables produces abstinence or smoking, but with some reciprocal effects of smoking behavior on the social learning variables. Previous research on various kinds of deviance and substance use has been supportive of the theory. The findings in this study from LISREL models of the overall social learning process and each of the component of association, reinforcement, and definitions are also supportive.

Effect of Increased Social Unacceptability of Cigarette Smoking on Reduction in Cigarette Consumption

“…The magnitude of the effect observed for the social unacceptability index is supported by social learning theory, which identifies the importance of social constructs such as parental and peer attitudes in shaping behavior. 11 The average increase in the social unacceptability index during 1996 to 1999 was 10.3%, meaning that there was a drop of 3.7% in consumption over the 4 years related to the increase in social unacceptability. The average price of a pack of cigarettes in 1999 was $2.93; a tax increase of $0.29 would have been required to achieve the same effect.…”

“…Social unacceptability has been repeatedly shown to be an important influence on both initiation and quitting. 9,10 Social learning theory 11 also supports the role of social constructs in shaping an individual's smoking behavior. We used 1996 through 1999 price and consumption data and data from a national survey on attitudes toward smoking to construct an index reflecting the social unacceptability of smoking.…”

Accounting for Projection Bias in Models of Delinquent Peer Influence: The Utility and Limits of Latent Variable Approaches

“…First, some scholars interpret the correlation as evidence supporting Sutherland's (1947) classic statement of differential association theory, which argues that an individual engages in any type of behavior as a function of repeated social interaction with associates who provide models of such behavior and who espouse a preponderance of attitudes favorable to that behavior. More recently, scholars have combined Sutherland's theory with the reinforcement paradigm in behavioral psychology (Burgess and Akers, 1966) and have theorized that delinquency results from an overall learning process comprised of exposure to delinquent associates, behavioral imitation of such associates, adoption of attitudes favorable to delinquency, and post-hoc reinforcement for delinquent behavior (Akers and Lee, 1996). Indeed, numerous longitudinal studies find that perceptions of peer delinquency at Time 1 are significantly associated with personal delinquency at Time 2 even after controlling statistically for personal delinquency at Time 1 (e.g., Matsueda and Anderson, 1998;Meldrum et al, 2009).…”

“…Other scholars, however, remain skeptical that a reciprocal relationship exists, instead arguing that the correlation reflects only the "tendency of people to seek the company of others like themselves" (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990:156). Empirical research comparing these alternative views remains equivocal, with some findings suggesting evidence of only socialization (e.g., Akers and Lee, 1996), others suggesting evidence of only selection (e.g., Rebellon, 2012), and others suggesting bidirectional causality (e.g., Matsueda and Anderson, 1998; see also Kandel, 1980). A third and final interpretation of the correlation between personal and perceived peer delinquency suggests that neither actually wields any causal influence over the other but rather that both are alternative measures of the same underlying construct.…”

Parental and Peer Influences on Adolescent Smoking: A Literature Review

“…The influence of parental and peer relationships has been a main focus of research on adolescent smoking, generally supporting the social learning theory that adolescents imitate behaviours of others in their social environment (Bandura & Davidson Films Inc., 2003). Akers and Lee (1996) suggest that behaviours such as smoking are commonly initiated through the processes of the social learning theory such as observation, interaction, reinforcement, and attitudes toward deviant others (in this case, parents and peers). Further, understanding how parental and peer factors influence the initiation of adolescent smoking through a critical review of the literature will potentially enable the development of public health programming which targets not only smoking adolescents but also their families and peers.…”