BACKGROUND: Social norm interventions have been implemented in schools to address concerns of alcohol use among high school students; however, research in this area has not incorporated measures of variability that may better reflect the complexity of social influences. PURPOSE: To examine the association between perceived alcohol norms, the student and school-level variability of those norms, and alcohol use behaviors among high school students. METHODS: A sample of 25,824 students from 58 high schools completed an online self-report survey. Hierarchical linear regression models were fit to examine the relationships between student- and school-level alcohol norm predictors, within school variability, and current alcohol use and binge drinking. RESULTS: Individual- and school-level norms were predictive of both current alcohol use and binge drinking. Whereas measures of norm diversity at the school-level were not predictive of alcohol use behaviors, individual norm proximity was predictive of both current alcohol use and binge drinking. DISCUSSION: The study findings were both consistent with prior research and support assertions that variability measures should be incorporated into social norms research approaches. TRANSLATION TO HEALTH EDUCATION PRACTICE: The findings support the incorporation of student-level variability measures, which could assist in identifying students who are susceptible to peer influence.
BACKGROUND: Social norm interventions have been implemented in schools to address concerns of alcohol use among high school students; however, research in this area has not incorporated measures of variability that may better reflect the complexity of social influences. PURPOSE: To examine the association between perceived alcohol norms, the student and school-level variability of those norms, and alcohol use behaviors among high school students. METHODS: A sample of 25,824 students from 58 high schools completed an online self-report survey. Hierarchical linear regression models were fit to examine the relationships between student- and school-level alcohol norm predictors, within school variability, and current alcohol use and binge drinking. RESULTS: Individual- and school-level norms were predictive of both current alcohol use and binge drinking. Whereas measures of norm diversity at the school-level were not predictive of alcohol use behaviors, individual norm proximity was predictive of both current alcohol use and binge drinking. DISCUSSION: The study findings were both consistent with prior research and support assertions that variability measures should be incorporated into social norms research approaches. TRANSLATION TO HEALTH EDUCATION PRACTICE: The findings support the incorporation of student-level variability measures, which could assist in identifying students who are susceptible to peer influence.
Entities:
Keywords:
Adolescent health; Measurement; Schools; Substance Use
Authors: Heiko Schmengler; Margot Peeters; Anton E Kunst; Albertine J Oldehinkel; Wilma A M Vollebergh Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-01-19 Impact factor: 3.240