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The myth of conformity: Adolescents and abstention from unhealthy drinking behaviors

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  • Rees, Carter
  • Wallace, Danielle

Abstract

Adolescent peer groups with pro-drinking group norms are a well-established source of influence for alcohol initiation and use. However, classic experimental studies of social influence, namely ‘minority influence’, clearly indicate social situations in which an individual can resist conforming to the group norm. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (“Add Health”), a nationally representative sample of adolescents, we find evidence that being a non-drinking adolescent does not unilaterally put youth at risk for drinking onset when faced with a friendship network where the majority of friends drink. Our results also show that a non-drinking adolescent with a majority of drinking friends is significantly less likely to initiate alcohol abuse if he or she has a minority of non-drinking friend(s). Furthermore, a drinking adolescent with a majority of friends who drink has a decreased probability of continuing to drink and has overall lower levels of consumption if he or she has a minority of friends who do not drink. Our findings recognize that adolescent in-group friendships are a mix of behavioral profiles and can perhaps help adolescents continue or begin to abstain alcohol use even when in a friendship group supportive of alcohol use.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:108:y:2014:i:c:p:34-45
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.01.040
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Aliaksandr Amialchuk & Onur Sapci, 2021. "The influence of normative misperceptions on alcohol-related problems among school-age adolescents in the U.S," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 453-472, June.
    2. Dingle, Genevieve A. & Haslam, Catherine & Best, David & Chan, Gary & Staiger, Petra K. & Savic, Michael & Beckwith, Melinda & Mackenzie, Jock & Bathish, Ramez & Lubman, Dan I., 2019. "Social identity differentiation predicts commitment to sobriety and wellbeing in residents of therapeutic communities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 237(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Aliaksandr Amialchuk & Olugbenga Ajilore & Kevin Egan, 2019. "The influence of misperceptions about social norms on substance use among school‐aged adolescents," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(6), pages 736-747, June.

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