Smoke Rings: Social Network Analysis of Friendship Groups, Smoking and Drug-taking
Author(s)
Pearson, Michael; Michell, Lynn
Abstract
Social network analysis is applied at the 1st 2 time points (1 yr apart) of a longitudinal study examining how smoking and drug use in adolescence is associated with social position within peer group structures. 150 secondary school students (aged 12-13 yrs) in 1 school named up to 6 best friends. This allowed for the categorization of each participant as a group member, a group peripheral, or a relative isolate. It was found that risk-taking behavior occurred across all social positions. At both time points, the behavior of participants on the periphery of peer groups reflected both the gender and the behavior of the groups themselves. At the 2nd time point, there were far more pupils on the periphery of risk-taking groups than on the periphery of non-risk-taking groups. The relationship appears to verify that risk-taking and non-risk-taking behavior is learned predominantly in the context of peer clusters and that risk-taking peer clusters act as a greater focus of influence and selection of peripheral students at a key stage in their development than do non-risk-taking peer clusters. Findings are relevant to the debate about peer pressure in relation to smoking and drug use.
