Effects of peer network interactions on adolescent cannabis use

Abstract

Purpose: This study capitalises on three waves of longitudinal data from a cohort of 4351 secondary school pupils to examine the effects on individuals' cannabis use uptake of both peer cannabis use and position within a peer network. Methodology:Both cross-sectional and individual fixed effects models are used to estimate the effect on cannabis use of nominated friends' cannabis use, of reciprocity and transitivity of nominations across the friendship cluster, and of interactions between these nominated friends.Post hoc analyses parsed the behaviour of reciprocating and non-reciprocating friends.Findings: Cannabis use varied depending on the stability of friendship network and the degree of reciprocity and interconnectedness within the group. Behavioural influence was strong, but interaction effects were observed between the prevalence of cannabis use among friends, the structure of the friendship group and ego's proximity to group members. These interactions demonstrate that behavioural influence is more salient in more cohesive groups. When reciprocating and non-reciprocating friends' mean cannabis use were separated, influence from reciprocating friends was estimated at twice the magnitude of other friends. Originality and value:While preventing of any one individual from using cannabis is likely to have a multiplier effect on classmates, the bonds and interactions between classmates will determine which classmates are affected by this multiplier and the salience of that effect.

Explaining Cannabis Use by Adolescents in Tarragona (Spain): Correlational and Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analyses

“…As we expected, our results display a positive and significant influence of P_TOLER and PEER_USE on USE. Whereas in the case of P_TOLER our results confirm those in [5,9,13,14,18,19,21,22] our findings over PEER_USE are in the line of [4,13,14,18,[25][26][27][28][29][30].…”

“…Consequently, literature reports that school engagement; academic success and influence by friends are relevant factors to explain cannabis use. In this regard, whereas [4,9,16,24] outline academic performance and engagement to school as a significant factor to explain drug consumption [4,13,14,18,[25][26][27][28][29][30] found decisive the behavior and attitude of peers toward substance use to explain cannabis consumption by teenagers.…”

The Belfast Youth Development Study (BYDS): A prospective cohort study of the initiation, persistence and desistance of substance use from adolescence to adulthood in Northern Ireland

“…Analyses also indicate exposure to a parent/carer’s drinking when aged 14 is associated with offspring’s subsequent drinking from mid-adolescence, extending into early adulthood [ 31 ]. Social network analysis of cannabis use across three waves found that use varied depending on the stability of the friendship network and degree of reciprocity and interconnectedness within the group, concluding that preventing an individual from using cannabis was likely to have a multiplier effect on classmates [ 32 ]. Modelling based on the social network data also found evidence that cross-sectional data can be used to estimate peer effects on cannabis use [ 33 ].…”

Contextual influences of illicit adolescent marijuana cultivation and trading in the Inqguza Hill local municipality of South Africa: implications for public health policy

“…As such, teenagers who see their peers benefitting financially from illicit marijuana cultivation and trading will be compelled to do same. Moriarty and Higgins [ 56 ] further explain that behavioural influence is strong among teenagers who have stable friendship networks. Hence, adolescents from a rural community where friendship networks are more stable and stronger [ 57 ] are likely to engage in illegal marijuana cultivation if their peers were involved in such a practice.…”