Peer selection and influence for marijuana use in a complete network of first-year college students.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit drug among college students, and there is a need to understand the social processes that contribute to young adults' marijuana use. Substance use behaviors tend to be more similar (homophilous) among individuals with social ties to one another. However, little is known about whether marijuana use homophily within young adult relationships is due to social selection (seeking out ties with similar marijuana use to one's own) or social influence (adopting similar marijuana use behaviors as one's ties), or both.

Methods

Students (N = 1,489; 54.6% female; M_age = 18.6 years) at one University completed online surveys in their first three semesters of college. Surveys assessed participant characteristics, marijuana

SUBMITTER: Barnett NP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8785655 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature