Effect of Peers on Employment and Implications for Drug Treatment

Abstract

We examined the effect peers have on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients' employment behavior. Nondrug using and chronic drug using TANF recipients (n = 433) participating in a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse were asked how many of the people they regularly spent time with over the past 4 months had jobs and how many of them encouraged the individual to look for work. Results of a path analysis showed that age, education, and chronic drug use were significantly related to the nature of peer relationships. A significant and positive association between the number of peers that worked and the number of hours worked in the following 4 months was observed. Examining the effect of peers on labor force participation by TANF recipients is necessary to assist recipients in securing and maintaining employment.

• Drug use
• job seeking
• peer influence
• peer selection
• welfare reform