Deviant Peers, Substance Use, and Conduct Problems across Adolescence: Moderators of Selection and Socialization Processes

Abstract

Although the extant literature suggests that associations with deviant peers (ADP) contribute to the persistence and exacerbation of adolescent conduct problems (CP) and substance use (SU), few studies have investigated processes through which these relations develop, the stability of ADP, risk factors for ADP, or prospective relations among patterns of ADP, CP, and SU across adolescence and substance use disorder (SUD) in early adulthood. Relations among ADP with CP and ADP with SU may be due to selection processes (i.e., youth select into ADP groups) and/or socialization processes (youth are influenced by deviant peers once they enter the ADP group). In addition, selection and socialization processes may be moderated by neuropsychological and temperamental (i.e., emotionality) factors, though there is a dearth of literature examining moderators of these processes. The present study addressed these gaps in the literature by examining five research aims: (1) identify subgroups of youth who vary in type and levels of ADP and CP/SU at three different ages using latent class analysis, (2) investigate the stability of ADP and CP/SU subgroup membership using latent transition analysis, (3) examine the prospective relations among ADP and CP/SU subgroup membership, (4) investigate potential neuropsychological and emotion regulation moderators of selection and socialization processes, and (5) evaluate prospective prediction to SUD in early adulthood from patterns of ADP and CP/SU subgroup membership across adolescence. Participants were youth who participated in a large-scale research project conducted through the Center for Education and Drug Abuse Research at the University of Pittsburgh. Youth and their families completed multiple assessments, beginning when youth were 10-12 years old, followed by assessments at 12-14, 16, and 22 years old. Results indicate (a) deviant peer groups vary based on type and severity of deviant behavior; (b) deviant peer group involvement increased across adolescence and continuity of deviant peer involvement was evident; (c) youth selected peers based on similar levels of deviant behavior across ages 10 to 16 years, but were influenced by these deviant peers to engage in CP and/or SU from ages 12-14 to 16 years; (d) relations between youth deviant behaviors and later selection of deviant friends differed according to levels of youth neuropsychological functioning and temperamental emotionality; and (e) earlier involvement with deviant peers, involvement with deviant peer groups defined by severe CP and SU, and youth engagement in both CP and SU were related to the greatest risk for SUD in early adulthood.