Wura Jacobs1, Patricia Goodson2, Adam E Barry2, Kenneth R McLeroy3, E Lisako J McKyer3, Thomas W Valente4. 1. a Department of Health Science , California State University , Fullerton , California , USA. 2. b Department of Health and Kinesiology , Texas A&M University , College Station , Texas , USA. 3. c Health Promotion and Community Sciences, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health , College Station , Texas , USA. 4. d Department of Preventive Medicine , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , California , USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Scientists have established that social networks influence adolescents' substance use behavior, an influence that varies by gender. However, the role of gender in this mechanism of influence remains poorly understood. Particularly, the role an adolescent's gender, alongside the gender composition of his/her network, plays in facilitating or constraining alcohol use is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the associations among the gender composition of adolescents' networks, select network characteristics, intrapersonal and interpersonal factors, and alcohol use among a sample of adolescents in the United States. METHODS: We assessed cross-sectional data from a 2010 study of 1,523 high school students from a school district in Los Angeles. Analyses of adolescents' network characteristics were conducted using UCINET 6; and logistic regression analyses testing the associations between gender composition of the network and alcohol use were conducted using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Our results indicate that the gender composition of adolescents' networks in our sample is associated with alcohol use. Adolescents in predominantly female or predominantly male friendship networks were less likely to report alcohol use compared to adolescents in an equal/balanced network. In addition, depending upon the context/type of network, intrapersonal and interpersonal factors varied in their association with alcohol use. Conclusions/Importance: Based on these findings, we make several recommendations for the future research. We call for researchers to further examine gender as a risk factor for alcohol abuse, particularly within the complex interplay between gender and network contexts.
BACKGROUND: Scientists have established that social networks influence adolescents' substance use behavior, an influence that varies by gender. However, the role of gender in this mechanism of influence remains poorly understood. Particularly, the role an adolescent's gender, alongside the gender composition of his/her network, plays in facilitating or constraining alcohol use is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the associations among the gender composition of adolescents' networks, select network characteristics, intrapersonal and interpersonal factors, and alcohol use among a sample of adolescents in the United States. METHODS: We assessed cross-sectional data from a 2010 study of 1,523 high school students from a school district in Los Angeles. Analyses of adolescents' network characteristics were conducted using UCINET 6; and logistic regression analyses testing the associations between gender composition of the network and alcohol use were conducted using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Our results indicate that the gender composition of adolescents' networks in our sample is associated with alcohol use. Adolescents in predominantly female or predominantly male friendship networks were less likely to report alcohol use compared to adolescents in an equal/balanced network. In addition, depending upon the context/type of network, intrapersonal and interpersonal factors varied in their association with alcohol use. Conclusions/Importance: Based on these findings, we make several recommendations for the future research. We call for researchers to further examine gender as a risk factor for alcohol abuse, particularly within the complex interplay between gender and network contexts.
Entities:
Keywords:
Social networks; adolescent; adolescent health; alcohol; gender
Authors: Karen Chan Osilla; Eric R Pedersen; Brett A Ewing; Jeremy N V Miles; Rajeev Ramchand; Elizabeth J D'Amico Journal: Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy Date: 2014-09-18
Authors: Denise L Haynie; Daniel Lewin; Jeremy W Luk; Leah M Lipsky; Fearghal O'Brien; Ronald J Iannotti; Danping Liu; Bruce G Simons-Morton Journal: Sleep Date: 2018-02-01 Impact factor: 5.849
Authors: Wura Jacobs; Ashley L Merianos; Matthew Lee Smith; Laura Nabors; Alane Fajayan; Thomas W Valente Journal: J Adolesc Health Date: 2020-03-11 Impact factor: 5.012
Authors: Ashley L Merianos; E Melinda Mahabee-Gittens; Wura Jacobs; Oluyomi Oloruntoba; Adam E Barry; Matthew Lee Smith Journal: J Sch Health Date: 2021-03-30 Impact factor: 2.460