Friends' Use and Adult Drug and Drinking Behavior - A Further Test of Differential Association Theory

• NCJ Number: 98497
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 74 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1983) Pages: 1608-1619
• Author(s): R T Dull
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of self-reported drug use in a sample representing the general Texas adult population provides strong support for extending the usefulness of differential association theory (behavior is learned through intimate personal groups) to the explanation of drug use within an adult population.

Abstract

The differential association theory was tested by asking respondents, 'Of your four closest friends, how many would you say use certain drugs?' Support for the theory of differential association requires a correlation between the number of drug-using friends and the respondent's propensity to use drugs. Respondents were a systematic random sample of 2,000 persons drawn from those holding valid Texas driver's licenses in 1981. The survey yielded 1,449 completed usable questionnaries. The independent variable scale was based on the cumulative number of close friends who had used alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco. Two composite drug use categories were also used: total number of drugs used during the last year and total number of drugs tried in a lifetime. The method of analysis involved a bivariate cross-comparison correlation of the independent variable (differential association) with the five dependent variables (specific drug use types and composite drug categories). Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient was the statistic used for these bivariate correlations. Partial correlations were analyzed, controlling for the demographic variables of age, race, sex, education, income, and marital status. The differential association variable was found to be significantly and positively associated with greater drug use. Each of the specific drug types was positively correlated with friends' use. Thus, the greater the number of close friends who use drugs, the more likely an adult will also use drugs. Tabular study data and 21 footnotes are provided.