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Social network influences on adolescent substance use: Disentangling structural equivalence from cohesion

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  • Fujimoto, Kayo
  • Valente, Thomas W.

Abstract

This study investigates two contagion mechanisms of peer influence based on direct communication (cohesion) versus comparison through peers who occupy similar network positions (structural equivalence) in the context of adolescents' drinking alcohol and smoking. To date, the two contagion mechanisms have been considered observationally inseparable, but this study attempts to disentangle structural equivalence from cohesion as a contagion mechanism by examining the extent to which the transmission of drinking and smoking behaviors attenuates as a function of social distance (i.e., from immediate friends to indirectly connected peers). Using the U.S. Add Health data consisting of a nationally representative sample of American adolescents (Grades 7–12), this study measured peer risk-taking up to four steps away from the adolescent (friends of friends of friends of friends) using a network exposure model. Peer influence was tested using a logistic regression model of alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking. Results indicate that influence based on structural equivalence tended to be stronger than influence based on cohesion in general, and that the magnitude of the effect decreased up to three steps away from the adolescent (friends of friends of friends). Further analysis indicated that structural equivalence acted as a mechanism of contagion for drinking and cohesion acted as one for smoking. These results indicate that the two transmission mechanisms with differing network proximities can differentially affect drinking and smoking behaviors in American adolescents.

Suggested Citation

  • Fujimoto, Kayo & Valente, Thomas W., 2012. "Social network influences on adolescent substance use: Disentangling structural equivalence from cohesion," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(12), pages 1952-1960.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:74:y:2012:i:12:p:1952-1960
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.02.009
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    1. Patrick Royston, 2004. "Multiple imputation of missing values," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 4(3), pages 227-241, September.
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    1. Papachristos, Andrew V. & Wildeman, Christopher & Roberto, Elizabeth, 2015. "Tragic, but not random: The social contagion of nonfatal gunshot injuries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 139-150.
    2. Rees, Carter & Wallace, Danielle, 2014. "The myth of conformity: Adolescents and abstention from unhealthy drinking behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 34-45.
    3. Hoeben, Evelien M. & Meldrum, Ryan C. & Walker, D'Andre & Young, Jacob T.N., 2016. "The role of peer delinquency and unstructured socializing in explaining delinquency and substance use: A state-of-the-art review," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 108-122.
    4. Bin Zhang & Paul A. Pavlou & Ramayya Krishnan, 2018. "On Direct vs. Indirect Peer Influence in Large Social Networks," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(2), pages 292-314, June.
    5. Li, Yi & Guo, Guang, 2020. "Heterogeneous peer effects on marijuana use: Evidence from a natural experiment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    6. Xi Chen & Yan Liu & Cheng Zhang, 2022. "Distinguishing Homophily from Peer Influence Through Network Representation Learning," INFORMS Journal on Computing, INFORMS, vol. 34(4), pages 1958-1969, July.
    7. Rees, Carter & Wallace, Danielle, 2015. "Reprint of: The myth of conformity: Adolescents and abstention from unhealthy drinking behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 151-162.
    8. Fujimoto, Kayo & Valente, Thomas W., 2015. "Multiplex congruity: Friendship networks and perceived popularity as correlates of adolescent alcohol use," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 173-181.
    9. Takagi, Daisuke & Yokouchi, Nobutada & Hashimoto, Hideki, 2020. "Smoking behavior prevalence in one's personal social network and peer's popularity: A population-based study of middle-aged adults in Japan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    10. Jang, Hayun & Kim, Jinho, 2023. "Peers’ parental education and cardiovascular disease risk in adulthood: The mediating role of health-related behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    11. Ipseeta Nanda & Rajesh De, 2022. "Firm Automation: Communication Network," Information Management and Computer Science (IMCS), Zibeline International Publishing, vol. 5(2), pages 34-35, November.
    12. Collonnaz, Magali & Riglea, Teodora & Kalubi, Jodi & O'Loughlin, Jennifer & Naud, Alexandre & Kestens, Yan & Agrinier, Nelly & Minary, Laetitia, 2022. "Social network analysis to study health behaviours in adolescents: A systematic review of methods," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).

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