Substance Use, Distress, and Adolescent School Networks

Y

15

Health Services; Grade Point Average; Mental Health Programs; Peer Relationship; Psychology; Social Networks; Psychological Patterns; Substance Abuse; Correlation; Friendship; High School Students; Middle School Students; Junior High School Students; Adolescents; Mental Disorders

10.1111/j.1532-7795.2012.00787.x

1050-8392

This study examined the associations of substance use, psychological distress, and mental health services receipt with the structure and content of adolescent school-based networks. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we found that substance use was associated with receiving more, but making fewer, peer nominations. It also was associated with less favorable network characteristics, such as low GPA. Services receipt was associated with receiving and making fewer nominations, less favorable network characteristics, and a lower likelihood of reciprocated best friendships. Psychological distress had fewer significant associations. All associations were modest in magnitude. Our results suggest the importance of considering multiple indicators of socioemotional problems and multiple dimensions of social networks in research on adolescent peer relations. (Contains 5 tables.)

As Provided

66

2012

EJ976206