NCJ Number
213176
Journal
Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 41 Issue: 1 Dated: 2006 Pages: 103-155
Date Published
2006
Length
53 pages
Annotation
This article presents a theoretical literature review to explore and clarify the relationship between adolescent cigarette smoking and friends’ cigarette smoking.
Abstract
A longitudinal model is presented that integrates relevant theories to provide a more comprehensive explanation of the relationship between adolescent cigarette smoking and friends’ cigarette smoking. In this model, ethnicity, subculture, and social bonding all influence both adolescent and friend smoking. It is further proposed that gender acts as a mediator of the relationship between adolescent and friend smoking, but more research on the direction of this relationship is needed. Four main classes of theories are explored that examine social influences of adolescent cigarette smoking at multiple levels of analysis, from influences on individuals, to small group influences, to influences by larger groups in society. The four classes of theories are: intrapersonal theories, influence theories, group-level theories, and network theories. In general, perceived influence theories place importance on an adolescent’s perception of friends’ smoking behavior while external influence theories claim that friends’ smoking behavior overtly influences adolescent smoking. Group level theories focus on the importance of subculture, gender, and race/ethnicity to explain the relationship between adolescent smoking and friends’ smoking. Network theories study how the patterns of friendship, communication, or support influence human behavior. Implications of the model for adolescent smoking prevention are discussed; prevention programs should emphasize refusal skill efficacy while encouraging adolescents to select friends based on interests other than smoking. Table, figure, references