Youth Misperceptions of Peer Substance Use Norms: A Hidden Risk Factor in State and Community Prevention

Wambeam, Rodney A.; Canen, Eric L.; Linkenbach, Jeff; Otto, Jay

doi:10.1007/s11121-013-0384-8

Cited by 23 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…In addition, school psychologists and school communities can deliver interventions that target perceived peer norms of use and improve perceptions of school climate. For instance, interventions that address and change perceived peer norms at the school level may impact individual level factors that lead to substance use initiation and may signal the need for macro-level interventions such as a social norms marketing campaign (Wambeam et al, 2014). Structural interventions can bring about normative shifts in how people view substance use and can potentially produce widespread effects (Fisher, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, some studies have found that adolescents’ own substance use was more influenced by perceived views of their peers’ use than by their peers’ actual use (Duan et al, 2009). In regards to perceived peer substance use norms, studies have found that as youth levels of misperception increase, substance use likelihood increases (Wambeam, Canen, Linkenbach, & Otto, 2014). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ecodevelopmental predictors of early initiation of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among Hispanic adolescents

Bacio

Estrada

Huang

et al. 2015

Journal of School Psychology

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The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to test the transactional relationships of risk and protective factors that influence initiation of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among Hispanic youth. Ecodevelopmental theory was used to identify factors at multiple ecological levels with a focus on four school-level characteristics (i.e. school socioeconomic status, school climate, school acculturation, and school ethnic composition). A sample of 741 Hispanic adolescents (M age =13.9, SD =.67) and their caregivers were recruited from 18 participating middle schools in Miami-Dade County, FL. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized ecodevelopmental model of early substance use, accounting for school clustering effects. Results provided strong support for the model (CFI = .95; RMSEA =.03). School SES was indirectly related to the likelihood of starting to use substances through perceived peer use norms (β =.03, p <.02). Similarly, school climate had an indirect effect on substance use initiation through family functioning and perceptions of peer use norms (β = −.03, p < .01). Neither school ethnic composition nor school acculturation had indirect effects on initiation of substance use. Results highlight the importance of the interplay of risk and protective factors at multiple ecological levels that impact early substance use initiation. Further, findings underscore the key role of school level characteristics on initiation of substance use and present opportunities for intervention.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecodevelopmental predictors of early initiation of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among Hispanic adolescents

Bacio

Estrada

Huang

et al. 2015

Journal of School Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…More specifically, a longitudinal study with 2248 students in the United States and Australia, documented that youth who perceived drug use as common among their peer groups were more likely to use tobacco and marijuana than their counterparts (Eisenberg, Toumbourou, Catalano, & Hemphill, 2014). Moreover, studies have found that youth are more likely to overestimate the number of peers engaged in substance use and other problem behaviors (Eisenberg et al, 2014; Wambeam, Canen, Linkenbach, & Otto, 2014). Social learning theory would suggest that peer group affiliation would reinforce dominant peer norms and that youth are more likely to adopt such behaviors in order to gain and maintain group membership (Petraitis, Flay, & Miller, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing three pathways to substance use and delinquency among low-income African American adolescents

Marotta

Voisin

2017

Children and Youth Services Review

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Objective Mounting literature suggests that parental monitoring, risky peer norms, and future orientation correlate with illicit drug use and delinquency. However, few studies have investigated these constructs simultaneously in a single statistical model with low income African American youth. This study examined parental monitoring, peer norms and future orientation as primary pathways to drug use and delinquent behaviors in a large sample of African American urban adolescents. Methods A path model tested direct paths from peer norms, parental monitoring, and future orientation to drug use and delinquency outcomes after adjusting for potential confounders such as age, socioeconomic, and sexual orientation in a sample of 541 African American youth. Results Greater scores on measures of risky peer norms were associated with heightened risk of delinquency with an effect size that was twice in magnitude compared to the protective effects of future orientation. Regarding substance use, greater perceived risky peer norms correlated with the increased likelihood of substance use with a standardized effect size 3.33 times in magnitude compared to the protective effects of parental monitoring. Conclusions Findings from this study suggest that interventions targeting risky peer norms among adolescent African American youth may correlate with a greater impact on reductions in substance use and delinquency than exclusively targeting parental monitoring or future orientation.

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“…W. Perkins, Meilman, Leichliter, Cashin, & Presley, 1999; H. W. Perkins & Craig, 2012; Wambeam, Canen, Linkenbach, & Otto, 2013). The consistent tendency is to overestimate the extent or prevalence of more permissive attitudes and problem behaviors than exist, even in peer contexts where substance use is actually relatively high.…”

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confidence: 99%

Misperception of Peer Weight Norms and Its Association with Overweight and Underweight Status Among Adolescents

Perkins

Craig

2014

Prev Sci

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Previous research has revealed pervasive misperceptions of peer norms for a variety of behaviors among adolescents such as alcohol use, smoking, and bullying, and that these misperceptions are predictors of personal behavior. Similarly, misperception of peer weight norms may be a pervasive and important risk factor for adolescent weight status. Thus, the comparative association of actual and perceived peer weight norms is examined in relation to personal weight status. Secondary school students in 40 middle and high schools (n=40,328) were surveyed about their perceptions of the peer weight norm for same gender and grade within their school. Perceived norms were compared to aggregate self-reports of weight for these same groups. Overestimation of peer weight norms by more than 5% occurred among 26% of males and 20% of females (by 22 and 16 pounds on average, respectively). Underestimation occurred among 38% of males as well as females (by 16 and 13 pounds on average, respectively). Personal overweight status based on body mass index (BMI) was much more prevalent among respondents who overestimated peer weight norms as was personal underweight status among respondents who underestimated norms. Perception of the peer norm was the strongest predictor of personal BMI among all personal and school variables examined for both male and female students. Thus, reducing misperceived weight norms should be given more attention as a potential avenue for preventing obesity and eating disorders.

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Youth Misperceptions of Peer Substance Use Norms: A Hidden Risk Factor in State and Community Prevention

Cited by 23 publications

References 24 publications

Ecodevelopmental predictors of early initiation of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among Hispanic adolescents

Ecodevelopmental predictors of early initiation of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among Hispanic adolescents

Testing three pathways to substance use and delinquency among low-income African American adolescents

Misperception of Peer Weight Norms and Its Association with Overweight and Underweight Status Among Adolescents

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