“Friends: The Role of Peer Influence Across Adolescent Risk Behavior

Adolescent involvement with cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, marijuana use, tobacco chewing and sexual presentation is beginning at a younger age. Adolescence is a time when we are more vulnerable because social influence is important to all of us; we want to detach from our parents and establish an identity of our own. Since much time is spent with friends and or peer groups an important question has risen: Do friends or peer groups influence not only positive behaviors but also exactly how much influence do these existing ties make or break adolescent risk behaviors such as the ones mentioned.
Using data collected from a peer network data set known as the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health or Add Health how it is frequently referred to. 1,969 seventh through twelfth grade students were interviewed in their own homes. The questions asked were about their experience with and attitudes toward adolescent risk behaviors. Each student was to select 10 friends, 5 bo...