Smoke Rings: social network analysis of friendship groups, smoking and drug-taking

Social network analysis is applied at the first two time points of a longitudinal study that examines how smoking & drug use in adolescence are associated with social position within peer group structures. In 1995 & 1996, second-year secondary students (initial N = 150) in Glasgow, Scotland, named up to six best friends in focus groups & one-on-one interviews, which allowed for the categorization of each adolescent as a group member, a group peripheral, or a relative isolate. It was found that risk-taking behavior occurred across all social positions. At both time points, behavior of pupils on the periphery of peer groups reflected both the gender & the behavior of the groups themselves. At Time 2, there were far more pupils on the periphery of risk-taking groups than on the periphery of non-risk-taking groups. The relationship appears to verify that risk-taking & non-risk-taking behavior is learned predominantly in the context of peer clusters, & that risk-taking peer clusters act as a greater focus of influence & selection of peripheral pupils at a key stage in their development than do non-risk-taking peer clusters. Findings are relevant in the debate about peer pressure in relation to smoking & drug use. 3 Tables, 3 Figures, 2 Appendixes, 25 References. Adapted from the soucrce document.