Understanding the Impact of Deviant Peer Association on Risk for Stimulant/Amphetamine Use: The Moderating Role of Exposure to Violence

Abstract

Prior research has indicated that deviant peer association is associated with increased risk for stimulant/amphetamine use. However, there remain gaps in our understanding of the context under which this relationship occurs. This study examined two forms of exposure to violence (direct victimization, witnessed violence) as moderators of the relationship between deviant peer association and stimulant/amphetamine use risk. All 11 waves of the Pathways to Desistance longitudinal data were used in analyses. Mixed effects logistic regression models were used to estimate relationships of interest while accounting for repeated measures nested within individual participants across time. Findings indicated that greater deviant peer association was associated with greater odds of stimulant/amphetamine use. Experiencing direct victimization significantly moderated this relationship, but in the opposite of the hypothesized direction, with individuals reporting direct victimization also reporting less reactivity to deviant peer association as it pertained to stimulant/amphetamine use. Witnessed violence did not moderate this relationship.