Peer Influence and Selection in Peer Groups

Abstract

The findings given in Chapter 6 were based on cross-sectional, complete network data, so changes in the teenagers’ substance use within their peer groups could not be attributed to peer influence or selection based on these data alone. But retrospective data were also collected on the timing of the formation of peer ties and the timing of the first use of each substance by the teenagers. These data are valuable in understanding the process of peer selection and peer influence which occurs among teenagers in their substance use. The retrospective data on timing are added in this chapter to illustrate the increasing similarity in substance use among teenagers in the peer groups in which they are embedded, and to examine the relative impact of peer influence and selection on their growing similarity.