Binge Drinking Trajectories from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: The Effects of Peer Social Network

Abstract

This study investigates an association between social network characteristics and binge drinking from adolescence to young adulthood, utilizing National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 7,966) and employing social network and longitudinal analysis. Lower integration and socialization with alcohol-using peers had immediate risks of binge drinking during adolescence; however, over time, the effects of socialization with alcohol-using peers had the most dramatic reduction. The most prestigious adolescents had the highest longitudinal risks of binge drinking, although they had no immediate risk. Alcohol consumption-related interventions overlooking longitudinal dynamics of social networks may not effectively prevent adolescents from binge drinking in young adulthood.

RÉSUMÉ

Consommation excessive d'alcool trajectoires de l'adolescence à l’âge adulte jeune : les effets de réseau social par les pairs

Cette étude examine une association entre les caractéristiques de réseau social et de la consommation excessive de l'adolescence à l’âge adulte jeune, utilisant l’Étude Nationale Longitudinale de Santé des Adolescents (n = 7,966) et utilisant le réseau social et l'analyse longitudinale. Inférieure d'intégration et de socialisation avec de l'alcool à l'aide de pairs avaient des risques immédiats de la consommation excessive d'alcool pendant l'adolescence; Cependant, au fil du temps, les effets de la socialisation avec de l'alcool à l'aide de pairs ont démontré la réduction la plus dramatique. Les adolescents les plus prestigieux avaient les risques longitudinales les plus élevés de consommation excessive d'alcool, bien qu'ils n'avaient pas de risque immédiat. Interventions de l'alcool qui néglige la dynamique longitudinale des réseaux sociaux ne peuvent effectivement empêcher adolescents de la consommation excessive d'alcool à l’âge adulte jeune.

RESUMEN

Las trayectorias de los excesos alcohólicos desde la adolescencia a la edad adulta joven: Los efectos del red social de los compañeros

Esta investigación explora la asociación entre características de una red social y excesos de alcohol, utilizando el Estudio Nacional Longitudinal de la Salud Adolescente (n = 7,966) y empleando la red social y análisis longitudinal. Menos integración y socialización con alcohol usando compañeros demostró riesgos inmediatos de excesos de alcohol en la adolescencia; sin embargo, con el avance del tiempo, los efectos de socialización con los compañeros usando alcohol demostraron la reducción más dramática. Muchos adolescentes prestigiosos tenían los riesgos longitudinales más altos de excesos de alcohol, aunque no tenían riesgos inmediatos. Intervenciones para el alcohol que no toman en cuenta las dinámicas longitudinales de las redes sociales pueden no prevenir efectivamente a los adolescentes de los excesos en el uso de alcohol en la edad adulta joven.

Keywords :

• National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health
• Add Health
• social network
• social network analysis
• binge drinking
• longitudinal data analysis
• adolescent drinking
• centrality
• young adulthood
• popularity
• generalized estimating equation (GEE)

THE AUTHORS

Hyeouk Chris Hahm, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA. Her fields of special interest include HIV/STDs risk factors, substance use/abuse, acculturation, and health disparities among ethnic minority adolescents and young adults.

Prof. Eric Kolaczyk, Ph.D., M.S., is the Director of the Program in Statistics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Boston University, Boston, MA. He is a leading research expert in statistical analysis of network-indexed data and works to develop new methodology and interdisciplinary studies.

Jisun Jang, M.A., completed her M.A. in Biostatistics at School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, and has a B.S. in both Statistics and Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She currently works as a statistical programmer at Clinical Research Center of Children's Hospital Boston and her areas of interest include both pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical intervention/prevention methods.

Theadora Swenson, B.A., is an undergraduate at Boston University studying in International Relations, Global Health and Development, and Public Health. Theadora focuses primarily on community health and plans to continue on to get a Masters in Public Health, concentrating on health behaviors and intervention design.

Asma Moiz Bhindarwala, B.S., is an undergraduate student at Boston University studying Health Sciences in the Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. After completing her undergraduate studies, she will be pursuing a Masters degree in public health, specializing in women's health, epidemiology, and global health issues.

Notes

3 The reader is reminded to consider that the posited influence of substance-using peers on the nonuser is not unidirectional. The nonuser can influence the user(s) as well. Internal and external conditions need to be considered. Editor's note.