It Takes Two to Tango: Vicarious Turning Points and Substance Use Among Dyadic Pairs

• In Event: Life Course Turning Points and Transitions: Advances in Research

Abstract

Although turning points have been marked as one of the most central and well-established correlates of substance use and offending, turning points are not experienced in isolation. In this study, we examine the concept of a “vicarious” turning point (VTP). VTPs represent significant life events that separate the past from the future as they are experienced by a significant other which, in turn, is believed to have a significant effect on the outcomes for the individual. To test the concept of VTPs, we leverage multiple waves of the twin subsample of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) data. Using a series of dyadic data models, we test whether shifts in social support experienced by one twin influences life outcomes for the other twin. We also examine how overall changes in levels of support within the dyad influence VTPs.

Authors

• Amanda Heitkamp, Troy University

• Thomas Mowen, Bowling Green State University