Abstract
By utilizing a time-sampling technique, this study investigated patterns in the amount of time spent with and the experience of different social companionships in relation to alcohol involvement (AI). European American adolescents in 9th through 12th grade (N = 215) carried electronic pagers for 1 week and completed self-report forms in response to signals received at random times. Results indicated that Al was related to spending more time with peers and less time with family. Although average overall mood states did not vary as a function of AI, variability of affect and investment across contexts were significantly related to Al. When the experience of specific social contexts was examined, the results indicated that greater AI was related to (a)lower affect, greater negative mood, and feelings of social isolation with family; (b)almost no difference in the experience of time spent with peers; and(c) lower affect when alone. Curvilinear relations between A1 and feelings of investment with family and when alone indicate that moderate AI was associated with the experience of greater motivation for activities in these contexts.