Social Experiences in Early Adolescence and Later Alcohol Use: The Moderating Role of Religiousness

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Topic - Social Relationships

Abstract

The adolescent years present a great threat of substance use initiation as it is a time characterized by an increase in autonomy and commonly risk-taking behaviors (Donovan & Jessor, 1985). Adolescence is also the time when social relationships become increasingly important; teens spend less time at home and more time at work, school, and activities, shifting social influence from parents to peers (Furstenburg, 2004). Consequently, peer relationships during adolescence are one of the most influential social factors in predicting adolescent health risk behaviors (Erickson, 1968; Umberson et al., 2010). Research shows that sociometric popularity at either extreme is associated with substance use in early adolescence. Adolescents high in popularity are more likely to engage in substance use behaviors (Moody et al., 2011). A similar trend has also been observed in those who experience loneliness and social isolation (Copeland et al., 2018). Research also suggests that increased religiousness serves as a buffer against teen substance use (Mason & Spoth, 2011). However, few studies have been conducted examining the protective role of religiousness against such specific social influences toward substance use. This study aims to examine whether the longitudinal associations between social relationship factors (social involvement or social alienation) in adolescence and alcohol use in young adulthood may vary by religiousness.
Self-report data were obtained from 167 adolescents (53% male, 80% White). Adolescents were 13-14 years of age at Time 1 and seen five times (annually for four years with an additional year gap between Time 4 and Time 5; 18-19 years of age at Time 5). Social involvement, peer alienation, and religiousness were examined at Times 1, 2, 3, and 4, and alcohol use was examined at Time 5. Social involvement was measured by the Social Scale of the Youth Self-Report (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001); peer alienation was measured by the peer alienation subscale of the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (Armsden & Greenberg, 1987); religiousness was measured by organizational religiousness, personal religiousness, and private practices (Fetzer & NIA, 1999; Jessor & Jessor, 1977); alcohol use was measured by a questionnaire asking a typical frequency of alcohol use (Hays, Widaman, DiMateeo, and Stacy, 1987; Needle, Su, & Lavee, 1989).
Structural equation modeling was used to examine associations between social relations, social alienation, religiousness, and alcohol use. Adolescents were divided into two groups based on level of religiousness. For those with low religiousness, two trends emerged: Those who were involved socially at Time 3 (b = 0.03, SE = 0.02, p = 0.03, B* = 0.29), as well as those who experienced peer alienation at Time 4 (b = 0.49, SE = 0.18, p = 0.01, B* = 0.33), both exhibited increased alcohol use at Time 5. For those with high religiousness, no significant relationships were observed.
These findings demonstrate significant links between sociometric popularity to both extremes and alcohol use. Importantly, such links were present in those characterized by low religiousness. The results highlight that high religiousness may protect against elevated alcohol use in cases of social involvement or alienation.

Authors

• Jordan Gamache, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  Presenting Author

• Toria Herd, Pennsylvania State University, University Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Kathryn Tarnai, Virginia Tech
  Non-Presenting Author

• Brooks King-Casas, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, and Virginia Tech
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jungmeen Kim-Spoon, Virginia Tech
  Non-Presenting Author