Examining Influence Processes Concerning Alcohol Use and Delinquency in Friendship and Companionship in Early Adolescence

Abstract

This social network study examined whether companions (i.e., weak ties) exert more influence than friends (i.e., strong ties) on alcohol use and delinquency of adolescents during the first year of secondary school (N = 1134, Mage = 12.66). Adolescents affiliate and interact with multiple peer types. However, peer influence processes concerning risk behavior have not been investigated in companionships (i.e., peers adolescents hang out with). Contrary to our hypotheses, multigroup longitudinal social network analyses indicated that there were no influence effects for companions and friends on adolescent alcohol use and delinquency. Hence, adolescents did not have the tendency to adopt the risk behavior of friends or companions when entering a new peer context at the start of secondary school.