NCJ Number
168643
Journal
Journal of Adolescent Research Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: April 1997 Pages: 245-262
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Reports of activities from 3,119 high school seniors were factor analyzed into dimensions that signified integration into school-based, adult-endorsed norms or engagement in peer fun activities that excluded adults to explore factors that differentiated between adolescents who did or did not participate in community service activities and to assess the extent of marijuana use.
Abstract
The study assumed the social integration of adolescents, in the sense of adult-endorsed peer activities, could be seen in their daily interactions. Participation in community service was one measure of social integration, and marijuana use was selected as a sign of an antisocial orientation. High school seniors were grouped into orientations toward school-adult norms but not peer fun, toward peer fun but not school-adult norms, toward both orientations, or toward neither orientation. School and all- around seniors were distinguishably high in community service, religion, and politics. Party seniors used marijuana more than did school seniors but not more than all-around seniors. Results for marijuana use were equally informative in their bearing on the concept of regulation. Adolescents who were integrated into normative society participated in adult-endorsed political and religious activities and also tended not to violate norms pertaining to marijuana use. The findings demonstrate important variations in high school senior integration into the part of peer culture that coincides with adult normative society. 31 references, 3 tables, and 2 figures