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Online Network Influences on Emerging Adults’ Alcohol and Drug Use

  • Empirical Research
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Abstract

Researchers have reported that network characteristics are associated with substance use behavior. Considering that social interactions within online networks are increasingly common, we examined the relationship between online network characteristics and substance use in a sample of emerging adults (ages 18–24) from across the United States (N = 2,153; M = 21 years old; 47 % female; 70 % White). We used regression analyses to examine the relationship between online ego network characteristics (i.e., characteristics of individuals directly related to the focal participant plus the relationships shared among individuals within the online network) and alcohol use and substance use, respectively. Alcohol use was associated with network density (i.e., interconnectedness between individuals in a network), total number of peer ties, and a greater proportion of emotionally close ties. In sex-stratified models, density was related to alcohol use for males but not females. Drug use was associated with an increased number of peer ties, and the increased proportion of network members’ discussion and acceptance of drug use, respectively. We also found that online network density and total numbers of ties were associated with more personal drug use for males but not females. Conversely, we noted that social norms were related to increased drug use and this relationship was stronger for females than males. We discuss the implications of our findings for substance use and online network research.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by an award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to Drs. Zimmerman and Bauermeister (5RC1DA028061-02; ‘Virtual Network Influences on Young Adults’ Alcohol and Drug Use’). Dr. Bauermeister is supported by a Career Development Award from the National Institute of Mental Health (K01-MH087242). Views expressed in this manuscript do not necessarily represent the views of the funding agencies.

SC participated in the data analysis, interpretation of the data and drafted the manuscript. JB conceived the study, participated in its design and coordination and data analysis, and helped draft the manuscript. DM participated in the data analysis, interpretation of the data, and helped to draft the manuscript. MZ participated in the study design and coordination and helped draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 168th Street, Room 556, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Stephanie H. Cook

  2. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, 3822 SPH 1, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    José A. Bauermeister & Deborah Gordon-Messer

  3. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, 3790A SPH 1, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Marc A. Zimmerman

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  1. Stephanie H. Cook
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  2. José A. Bauermeister
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  4. Marc A. Zimmerman
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Correspondence to José A. Bauermeister.

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Cook, S.H., Bauermeister, J.A., Gordon-Messer, D. et al. Online Network Influences on Emerging Adults’ Alcohol and Drug Use. J Youth Adolescence 42, 1674–1686 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9869-1

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