Specifying the Temporal Bounds of the Situational Peer Effect

Abstract

Objective

Although the bulk of work on peer influence focuses on socialization, theory and research also document situational peer effects. Yet, the temporal bounds of such situational peer effects are unclear. The effect may be tied to the immediate context, but it may also endure for a short time after leaving a peer context. This study attempts to specify the temporal bounds of the situational peer effect on substance use.

Methods

We use fixed-effects linear probability models with hourly space-time budget information to determine whether amplified risks of substance use endure in the hours after adolescents leave a peer context, operationalized both as the presence of peers and as unstructured, unsupervised socializing with peers.

Results

We observe that being in the immediate presence of peers and that being engaged in unstructured, unsupervised socializing with peers increases the risk of substance use. We also document preliminary evidence of residual risk in the hours after exposure to peers.

Conclusion

Our findings support the contention that situational peer effects are meaningful and raise questions about a possible transitional period of elevated risk when adolescents leave the peer context.