Descriptive Drinking Norms: For Whom Does Reference Group Matter?

Larimer, Mary E.; Neighbors, Clayton; LaBrie, Joseph W.; Atkins, David C.; Lewis, Melissa A.; Lee, Christine M.; Kilmer, Jason R.; Kaysen, Debra; Pedersen, Eric R.; Montoya, Heidi D.; Hodge, Kimberley A.; Desai, Sruti; Hummer, Justin F.; Walter, Theresa

doi:10.15288/jsad.2011.72.833

Cited by 84 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…This supports earlier research which suggested that although general norms are important, the norms of close friends are even more influential (Cho, 2006). The standard prevention practice on college campuses usually involves social norms campaigns with the understanding that local norms data (i.e., specific college norms) are more powerful than broader regional or national stats in combating faulty perceptions (Larimer et al, 2011;Lewis & Neighbors, 2006). Our findings indicate that prevention campaigns might need to go even one step further.…”

Section: Social Tiessupporting

confidence: 88%

Propensity, Social Ties, Friend Behavior, and Heavy Drinking Among College Students

Clinkinbeard

Rhodes

2014

Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse

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The current research explores self-control, early-onset alcohol propensity, and social ties as they relate to heavy drinking on a college campus. The study draws on a survey of alcohol-related attitudes and behaviors administered to a cluster sample of 149 residential students (M age ¼ 19.9; 51% female) at a medium-sized Midwestern university. A series of ordinary least squares regressions were conducted to explore independent and interactive effects of propensity and social ties on drinking. Propensity and antisocial ties consistently and independently predicted measures of heavy drinking and related consequences. Prosocial ties were less consistent, though they were associated with alcohol-related consequences. Propensity amplified the effects of antisocial ties on drinking and related consequences. Early-onset drinking and low self-control represented unique indicators of propensity for heavy drinking behavior in college. The strongest, most consistent finding across all models was the positive association between close friend substance behavior and participant drinking outcomes. This research indicates that although propensity (i.e., low self-control and early drinking behavior) may put individuals at risk of heavy drinking, these effects can be conditioned by dynamic social ties and thus prevention efforts should focus on these ties. Specifically, prevention campaigns and future research should target ''students and their friends'' as heavy drinking appears to be heavily influenced by close friendships and perceived norms.

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Section: Social Tiessupporting

confidence: 88%

Propensity, Social Ties, Friend Behavior, and Heavy Drinking Among College Students

Clinkinbeard

Rhodes

2014

Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse

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“…Our study suggests that the effect of drinking norms may be contingent on social distance from peers. Although perceived norms for the "typical student" are less accurate (i.e., easier to correct) than norms for more specifi c/similar referent groups (at least in college students; Larimer et al, 2011), priority should be given to correct misperceptions of similar referent groups given their greater infl uence on alcohol-related behaviors (Lewis and Neighbors, 2006). Programs targeted to delay age at initiation may be more effective if their focus is on resistance to friend offers rather than more general resistance training.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Willingness to Drink as a Function of Peer Offers and Peer Norms in Early Adolescence

Jackson

Colby

et al. 2014

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs

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ABSTRACT. Objective: The goal of this study was to explore the effect of subjective peer norms on adolescents' willingness to drink and whether this association was moderated by sensitivity to peer approval, prior alcohol use, and gender. Method: The sample was 1,023 middleschool students (52% female; 76% White; 12% Hispanic; M age = 12.22 years) enrolled in a prospective study of drinking initiation and progression. Using web-based surveys, participants reported on their willingness to drink alcohol if offered by (a) a best friend or (b) a classmate, peer norms for two referent groups (close friends and classmates), history of sipping or consuming a full drink of alcohol, and sensitivity to peer approval (extreme peer orientation). Items were re-assessed at two followups (administered 6 months apart). Results: Multilevel models revealed that measures of peer norms were signifi cantly associated with both willingness outcomes, with the greatest prediction by descriptive norms. The association between norms and willingness was magnifi ed for girls, those with limited prior experience with alcohol, and youths with low sensitivity to peer approval. Conclusions: Social norms appear to play a key role in substance use decisions and are relevant when considering more reactive behaviors that refl ect willingness to drink under conducive circumstances. Prevention programs might target individuals with higher willingness, particularly girls who perceive others to be drinking and youths who have not yet sipped alcohol but report a higher perceived prevalence of alcohol consumption among both friends and peers. (J.

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“…Many authors report that social norms regarding substance use highly affect adolescents and young adults (Dennhardt & Murphy, 2013). College students who overestimate the extent to which their social environment uses a substance (the descriptive norm), tend to use that substance more themselves (e.g., Larimer et al, 2011;Lewis et al, 2011;Martens et al, 2006;McMillan & Conner, 2003). Subjective norms, the extent to which an individual feels it is expected of them to (not) take a substance, can be subdivided into injunctive norms, i.e., the perceived (dis)approval by others regarding substance use, and motivation to comply, i.e., the wish (not) to comply with this norm (Ajzen, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and Psychosocial Correlates of Party-Drug Use and Associated Problems among University Students in the Netherlands

Kunst

Gebhardt

2018

Substance Use & Misuse

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Background: Recent developments in drug use patterns call for an investigation of current party-drug use and associated problems among college students, who appear to be an important target population for harm reduction interventions. Objectives: In addition to reporting on party-drug use prevalence, we investigated whether initial use and continuation of party-drug use among students was associated with demographic, personality and psychosocial factors. Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to 446 students from a Dutch university, inquiring about party-drug use, demographic characteristics, social norms and personality (big five, impulsiveness, aggression). Univariate and multivariate bootstrapped linear regression analyses were used. Results: Of all students, 22.9% indicated having used party-drugs at least once, with a notable sex difference (39.2% of men vs. 16.2% of women). In contrast to the reported trends in Dutch nightlife, GHB was used rarely (lifetime 1.6%) and new psychoactive substances (NPS; 6.7%) appeared almost equally popular as amphetamines (7.6%) and cocaine (7%). Mild health/psychosocial problems (e.g., doing embarrassing things, feeling unwell) were common (65%), whereas serious problems (e.g., being hospitalized) were rare. Neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness and impulsiveness were associated with lifetime but not regular party-drug use. Of all predictors, lifetime and regular party-drug use were most strongly related to lenient injunctive and descriptive norms in friends, and a low motivation to comply with parents. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that harm reduction/preventive interventions might profit from focusing on social norms, and targeting students who are highly involved in a pro-party-drug environment while experiencing less parental influence.

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Descriptive Drinking Norms: For Whom Does Reference Group Matter?

Cited by 84 publications

References 59 publications

Propensity, Social Ties, Friend Behavior, and Heavy Drinking Among College Students

Propensity, Social Ties, Friend Behavior, and Heavy Drinking Among College Students

Willingness to Drink as a Function of Peer Offers and Peer Norms in Early Adolescence

Prevalence and Psychosocial Correlates of Party-Drug Use and Associated Problems among University Students in the Netherlands

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