Aim: Investigated the role of peer influence in predicting adolescent substance abuse.
Method: 198 families took part in longitudinal study. Data was collected from mothers when they were pregnant and 18 years later from their children as teenagers. Information about peer substance abuse and the teenagers' own substance abuse was recorded.
Results:Substance abuse by the teenagers was significantly associated with peers abusing substances.
Conclusion:Teenagers modelled themselves on their peers. Peer pressure in the form of peer encouragement explained why teenagers started to abuse substances. There was also some evidence that those teenagers who abuse substances actively saught friends with similar interests.
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