How Strong is the "Fake ID Effect?" An Examination Using Propensity Score Matching in Two Samples

Background Underage college students who obtain and use false identification (fake ID) are at risk for negative outcomes. However, it is currently unclear how uniquely the fake ID itself serves as a vehicle to subsequent harm (i.e., the “fake ID effect”) over and above general and trait‐related risk factors (e.g., deviant peers, low self‐control). Methods To investigate whether the “fake ID effect” would hold after accounting for phenotypic risk, we utilized propensity score matching (PSM) in a cross‐sectional sample of 1,454 students, and a longitudinal replication sample of 3,720 undergraduates. Individuals with a fake ID were matched with individuals without a fake ID, in terms of a number of trait‐based and social risk factors. These matched groups were then compared on 5 problematic outcomes (i.e., frequent binge drinking, alcohol‐related problems, arrests, marijuana use, and hard drug use). Results Findings showed that “fake ID effects” were substantially—although not fully—diminished following PSM. The “fake ID effect” remained strongest for alcohol‐related arrests. This may relate to issues of enforcement and students’ willingness to engage in deviant behavior with a fake ID, or it may be a function of combined processes. Conclusions Overall, the findings suggest that interventions should not only be aimed at reducing the fake ID‐related alcohol access specifically, but should also be aimed more generally toward at‐risk youths’ access to alcohol. Future research might examine whether fake IDs have their strongest potency as moderators of the effects of risky traits—such as impulsiveness—on drinking outcomes. The use of false identification has been linked to numerous negative outcomes; however, it was previously unclear whether fake IDs served as a vehicle to subsequent harm (i.e., the “fake ID effect”) or whether the association was generally driven by trait‐related risk factors. A propensity score matching (PSM) analysis using two large student samples suggests that “fake ID effects” are mostly—although not entirely—the result of trait and environmental risks associated with the acquisition of the fake ID.