Simulating Dynamic Network Models and Adolescent Smoking: The Impact of Varying Peer Influence and Peer Selection

Am J Public Health. 2015 Dec;105(12):2438-48. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302789. Epub 2015 Oct 15.

Abstract

We used a stochastic actor-based approach to examine the effect of peer influence and peer selection--the propensity to choose friends who are similar--on smoking among adolescents. Data were collected from 1994 to 1996 from 2 schools involved in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, with respectively 2178 and 976 students, and different levels of smoking. Our experimental manipulations of the peer influence and selection parameters in a simulation strategy indicated that stronger peer influence decreased school-level smoking. In contrast to the assumption that a smoker may induce a nonsmoker to begin smoking, adherence to antismoking norms may result in an adolescent nonsmoker inducing a smoker to stop smoking and reduce school-level smoking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Friends / psychology
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Peer Group*
  • Psychology, Adolescent
  • Smoking / epidemiology*
  • Smoking / psychology
  • Social Support
  • Stochastic Processes
  • United States / epidemiology