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The influence of normative misperceptions on alcohol-related problems among school-age adolescents in the U.S

Author

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  • Aliaksandr Amialchuk

    (University of Toledo)

  • Onur Sapci

    (University of Toledo)

Abstract

Adolescents usually overestimate their peers’ alcohol use, and these misperceptions affect adolescents’ own alcohol-related behaviors. Using a nationally representative dataset of U.S. adolescents in grades seven to twelve, we estimate the effect of misperception about friends’ alcohol use on adolescents’ alcohol consumption behaviors and alcohol-related problems. Overestimation of friends’ alcohol use significantly increases the likelihood of all alcohol consumption behaviors and all alcohol-related problems approximately one year later. The influence of misperceptions of friends’ drinking is significantly larger for male adolescents than for female adolescents in the cases of heavy drinking, vomiting after drinking, and drunk driving.

Suggested Citation

  • Aliaksandr Amialchuk & Onur Sapci, 2021. "The influence of normative misperceptions on alcohol-related problems among school-age adolescents in the U.S," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 453-472, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:reveho:v:19:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11150-020-09481-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11150-020-09481-3
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Alcohol; Problems; Social norms; Misperception; Adolescents;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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