Elsevier

Addictive Behaviors

Volume 31, Issue 8, August 2006, Pages 1454-1459
Addictive Behaviors

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Childhood behavior problems and peer selection and socialization: Risk for adolescent alcohol use

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2005.09.015Get rights and content

Abstract

To date, research examining the role of peers in the development of substance use has focused almost exclusively on externalizing behavior problems without considering internalizing behavior problems. This is a notable omission in the literature, because there is some evidence to suggest that internalizing behavior increases risk for substance use, and peers are considered to be among the strongest proximal influences of substance use. The current study considered both internalizing and externalizing behavior problems and examined peer socialization and selection models of alcohol use using a 2-year longitudinal design. We examined potential reciprocal relations between internalizing and externalizing behavior and affiliations with delinquent peers, and how these variables predicted initiation of alcohol use. Participants were 86 children (71% male) ranging from 9–12 years of age (M = 10.87). Results were consistent with socialization, whereby delinquent peer affiliations were associated with increases in externalizing behavior, and subsequently early initiation of alcohol use. There was also evidence to suggest that internalizing behavior served as a protective factor for delinquent peer affiliations and for early initiation of alcohol use. Implications of these findings for prevention and intervention efforts are discussed.

Introduction

Considerable research suggests an association between affiliation with delinquent peers and adolescent substance use (SU) (e.g., Hawkins, Catalano, & Miller, 1992), and two mechanisms, selection and socialization, have been found to account for this association. The literature on peer selection and socialization has focused almost exclusively on externalizing behavior problems and has shown that children exhibiting high levels of externalizing behavior problems select into peer groups that support and encourage delinquent behavior and SU (selection), and such peer affiliations increase risk for externalizing behavior problems including SU socialization (e.g., Curran, Stice, & Chassin, 1997). Very little research has examined peer selection and socialization with respect to internalizing behavior problems. This is a notable omission, because some evidence suggests that internalizing behavior increases risk for SU (e.g., Colder & Chassin, 1997), and whether peers are involved in this pathway has important implications for prevention.

The current study examined selection and socialization processes in the pathways from internalizing and externalizing behavior problems to SU. Specifically, we examined whether externalizing and internalizing behavior problems were associated with changes in peer delinquency (selection), and whether peer delinquency was associated with changes in externalizing and internalizing behavior (socialization). We controlled for internalizing behavior when examining externalizing behavior and vice versa. This was important so that we could examine unique relations between peer delinquency and internalizing and externalizing behavior. Consistent with previous research, we expected externalizing behavior to predict increases in peer delinquency and peer delinquency to predict increases in externalizing behavior. However, we were uncertain about internalizing behavior. According to self-derogation theory, internalizing behavior might be expected to follow a pathway similar to externalizing behavior (Kaplan, 1980). Self-derogation is posited to result from peer rejection, and feelings of rejection and self-derogation are thought to lead an individual to reject societal norms and seek peers who are accepting of and reinforcing of their behavior, which typically results in delinquent peer affiliations that increase behavior problems (Kaplan, 1980). Alternatively, internalizing behavior may lead to social isolation and thus may decrease the likelihood of affiliating with deviant peers and SU (Rubin, Chen, McDougal, Bowler, & McKinnon, 1995). It is also possible that internalizing problems may increase the likelihood of SU outside of the peer context. That is, some youth may use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate distress, and this coping behavior may occur outside of the peer context.

Section snippets

Participants and procedures

The current study included a sample of 86 children (71% male) ranging from 9–12 years of age (mean = 10.87). Most of the participants were Caucasian (72%). The median family income was $45,000 (range = $6,000 to $155,000). Child and parent interviews were conducted in separate rooms at baseline and 1 year later. All survey questions were read aloud by the experimenter.

Internalizing and externalizing behavior problems

Behavior problems were assessed at Time 1 and Time 2 using parent reports of the Internalizing (31 items) and Externalizing (33

Descriptive statistics

Correlations, means, and standard deviations are reported in Table 1.

Predicting Time 2 problem behavior and peer delinquency

Time 2 variables were regressed on Time 1 variables in order to examine prospective relations between internalizing and externalizing behavior and peer delinquency. Regression results and effect sizes (f2) (Cohen, 1988) are reported in Table 2.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded to Dr. Craig Colder (DA14386) and to Paula Fite (DA018016). In addition, this research was supported by SUNY Graduate Student Employee Union Professional Development funds awarded to Paula Fite. Preliminary findings of this paper were presented at the 5th International Conference on Addictions in Queensland, Australia. We would like to thank members of the lab Kirstin Stauffacher, Patrick Nowlin, and

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