Tara M Dumas1, Jordan P Davis2, Matthew A Maxwell-Smith3, Angelica Bell1. 1. a Department of Psychology , Huron University College at Western University , London , Ontario , Canada. 2. b Department of Children, Youth and Families, Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work , University of Southern California , Los Angeles , California , USA. 3. c DAN Management and Organizational Science Department , Western University , London , Ontario , Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Emerging adults consume alcohol most often with their peer drinking groups. Yet, little is known about the role of drinking group norms on individual members' drinking consequences, nor about the mechanisms that underlie this association. OBJECTIVES: We examined the indirect relationship between drinking group descriptive norms (perceived frequency of group heavy episodic drinking; HED) and individual drinking consequences via individual HED. We also examined key moderators, including the extent to which individuals occupied high status positions within their drinking groups, the strength of their identification with the group, and the degree to which they identified with emerging adulthood, a developmental period associated with heightened alcohol consumption. METHODS: Participants were 280 and 340 (replication study) emerging adults (18-29 years) who were recruited via an online crowdsourcing site to complete a survey. RESULTS: Across studies, higher status was associated with more individual HED and drinking consequences. Further, group identification and identification with emerging adulthood strengthened the relation between group and individual HED. Finally, the indirect relation between group HED and individual drinking consequences was significant and stronger for individuals who identified more with their drinking groups and with emerging adulthood. Conclusions/Importance: Findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the impact of descriptive peer norms on heavy drinking and related consequences in emerging adulthood and help identify drinking group members most at risk for internalizing descriptive group norms for HED. Key implications for prevention and intervention programming are discussed.
BACKGROUND: Emerging adults consume alcohol most often with their peer drinking groups. Yet, little is known about the role of drinking group norms on individual members' drinking consequences, nor about the mechanisms that underlie this association. OBJECTIVES: We examined the indirect relationship between drinking group descriptive norms (perceived frequency of group heavy episodic drinking; HED) and individual drinking consequences via individual HED. We also examined key moderators, including the extent to which individuals occupied high status positions within their drinking groups, the strength of their identification with the group, and the degree to which they identified with emerging adulthood, a developmental period associated with heightened alcohol consumption. METHODS:Participants were 280 and 340 (replication study) emerging adults (18-29 years) who were recruited via an online crowdsourcing site to complete a survey. RESULTS: Across studies, higher status was associated with more individual HED and drinking consequences. Further, group identification and identification with emerging adulthood strengthened the relation between group and individual HED. Finally, the indirect relation between group HED and individual drinking consequences was significant and stronger for individuals who identified more with their drinking groups and with emerging adulthood. Conclusions/Importance: Findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the impact of descriptive peer norms on heavy drinking and related consequences in emerging adulthood and help identify drinking group members most at risk for internalizing descriptive group norms for HED. Key implications for prevention and intervention programming are discussed.
Entities:
Keywords:
Emerging adulthood; descriptive norms; drinking groups; group identification; heavy episodic drinking; peers; status
Authors: Jordan P Davis; Eric R Pedersen; Joan S Tucker; Michael S Dunbar; Rachana Seelam; Regina Shih; Elizabeth J D'Amico Journal: J Youth Adolesc Date: 2019-04-25
Authors: Scott Graupensperger; Anna E Jaffe; Brittney A Hultgren; Isaac C Rhew; Christine M Lee; Mary E Larimer Journal: Psychol Addict Behav Date: 2020-10-15