Peer Orientation Research Articles

Analisis Minat Menjadi Guru Mahasiswa Pendidikan Ekonomi UNIMED Stambuk 2022

The focus of this study is to analyze student interest in the economics education program to become a teacher at UNIMED Stambuk 2022. This study is qualitative research that uses a questionnaire distribution approach. The population of this research is 30 students majoring in economic education in Stambuk 2022. The ability of economic education students to become teachers is very important in determining the quality of education. Several aspects that influence teacher readiness include the role of parents, educational outcomes, peer orientation, and practical teaching experience. However, interest in the teaching process, interpersonal communication skills, and a deep understanding of basic educational material also play a positive role in increasing teacher readiness. The lack of interest of economic education students in teaching economics subjects can be caused by various factors such as challenges in teaching these subjects, lack of awards, and the complexity of the certification process. Evaluation of elements that impact readiness to become a teacher, such as physical and mental abilities, mastery of subject matter, and social abilities, can also help increase teacher interest in economics education students. Motivation and interest play an important role in shaping readiness to become a teacher.

A model of medical students’ engagement in quality assurance system at educational program level in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Background: Active involvement of students as partners in quality processes at the college is promising in ensuring the quality of the medical school and creating a quality culture for a proper accreditation system. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore a model of undergraduate medical students’ perception and understanding of quality assurance (QA) in higher education and identify the challenges and empowerment factors for student involvement in Saudi Arabia. Setting and Design: For this purpose, students were involved as official members with the quality team at Saudi medical college. They were included in different tasks and initiatives related to QA, including a peer orientation initiative, through which they became responsible for orienting their colleagues regarding the quality principles and accreditation standards. Methods: A questionnaire (pre-and post) was used to evaluate the peer orientation initiative. Furthermore, another questionnaire was directed to the quality team of students to evaluate their experience. Statistical Analysis: Done using an independent t-test to measure the efficiency of the student’s peer orientation program through comparing pre- and postquestionnaire results. Results: A significant increase in knowledge and improved attitude toward quality and accreditation process at the college was detected after attending the peer orientation program. Students of the quality team recognized the importance of their active engagement and found themselves having voices and able to make changes they confirmed that transparency of QA activities and continuous communication with faculty members and program leaders in regular meetings enhance student’s self-perception, impact their future employment skills, and establish a quality culture in Saudi Arabia. Conclusion: The experience should be generalized and disseminated to other health profession education programs with similar students’ populations with adequate rewards and resources.

Comparing youth with and without type 1 diabetes on perceived parenting and peer functioning: a propensity weighting approach.

The premise of this study was to gain more insight into whether type 1 diabetes (T1D) can impact how youth perceive parents and peers. To address limitations of previous observational studies comparing youth with T1D to control youth, propensity weighting was used to mimic a randomized controlled trial. A total of 558 youth with T1D and 426 control youth (14-26y) completed questionnaires on parental responsiveness, psychological control, overprotection, friend support, extreme peer orientation, and a host of background and psychological functioning variables. The groups were statistically weighted to become as comparable as possible except for disease status. The analysis plan and hypotheses were preregistered on the open science framework. Youth with T1D perceived their mothers to be more overprotective, perceived fewer friend support, and were less extremely oriented toward peers than control youth. There were no group differences for paternal overprotection and paternal and maternal responsiveness and psychological control. Mothers of youth with T1D seem at risk to practice overprotective parenting and clinicians could play an important role in making mothers aware of this risk. However, the absence of group differences for the maladaptive parenting dimension of psychological control and adaptive dimension of responsiveness are reassuring and testify to the resilient nature of youth with T1D and their families. Additionally, there is accumulating evidence that T1D could interfere with engaging in supportive friendships.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF COMMUNICATION MOTIVES OF PRESCHOOLERS’ WITH VARIOUS DEGREES OF EMOTIONAL ADMIRATION OF JOINT ACTIVITY

The article presents the results of theoretical and empirical research of psychological peculiarities of communication motivation of preschoolers who have different degrees of emotional admiration of joint activity. As a result of theoretical analysis, it was found that the most common reason for children to choose a communication partner is the attractiveness of another person as a personality due to the moral, business or physical qualities, a manifestation of sympathy, love to this person, i.e. emotional attitude. At the same time, the need for a more detailed practical study of the problem was confirmed, because the issue of communication motivation in preschool age, in particular, the influence of the degree of emotional admiration of joint activity on this process, remains insufficiently resolved.
 The data of an empirical study of the peculiarities of communication motives of preschool children with different degrees of emotional admiration of joint activity showed that the higher the degree of emotional interest of preschoolers for joint activity is, the higher the degree of development of communication motives they have. Parameters such as the subjective significance of a peer for a child, which is manifested in the general admiration of others; peer orientation, i.e. the ability to concede, to help; ability to empathy, as well as the child’s choice (to help or not to help to his or her peers), the degree of emotional admiration of the activity and an indication of its expression (positive or negative); the nature of the child’s behavior, its emotional expression, speech, were used as the main indicators of interpersonal relationships. 
 It was proved that the degree of preschoolers’ emotional admiration of joint activity is largely correlated with the level of development of their ability to concede and the willingness to help. Thus, the motives of communication of the preschooler with other children differ depending on the degree of his or her emotional admiration of joint activity, because it was found that the higher the degree of emotional admiration of preschoolers is, the higher the level of development of the ability to concede and the willingness to help they have.

Students as Partners in Peer Mentoring: Expectations, Experiences and Emotions

Increasing emphasis in recent years has been placed on how faculty, staff and students in higher education can be drawn into more collaborative learning relationships through partnership working. The significant challenges in terms of negotiating shifting roles and responsibilities have been well documented. Less attention has been paid to the affective challenges, and particularly the emotional labour involved. This paper focuses on the adoption of a partnership approach to first year peer mentoring and orientation in a large Social Science programme. Peer mentors played a critical role as designers of the programme, as partners delivering the programme, and as co-researchers, offering a unique understanding and insight into aspects of the peer mentor experience that often remain hidden. Our findings draw attention to the need to consider and manage more carefully the impact of students on each other in mentoring relationships but also suggest an opportunity to harness the mentoring experience to embed a partnership culture more fully.

Adolescent Brain Development and Psychopathology: Introduction to the Special Issue

The importance of adolescence to both development and psychopathology cannot be overstated. Developmentally, it is a time of tremendous physiological and behavioral change. Dramatic shifts occur in brain structure (synaptic pruning, increased myelination), function (corticosubcortical connectivity, increased specialization), and neurochemistry (prefrontal GABA [gamma-aminobutyric acid], glutamate, and dopamine neurotransmission) (1). As noted throughout this special issue of Biological Psychiatry, similarly dramatic changes occur in behavior (increased peer orientation, impulsivity, and risk taking), cognition (increased abstraction, social competence), and emotion regulation.

FEATURES OF EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN CHILDREN IN THE ASPECT OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP FORMATION

The topicality of the research lies in the fact that negative changes in modern children’ development are more common nowadays.The aim of the article is to analyse peculiarities of the child’s emotional development in senior preschool age. The following key features of the preschooler’s emotional sphere were singled out in scientific literature: the ability to realize emotional states of others around him, the ability to empathize. During diagnostics, the formation of the following indicators was checked: awareness of emotional states of others and the ability to empathize. The following methods were used: «Study of understanding the emotional states of people», «Study of children’s awareness of moral norms» (G.Uruntayeva, Y.Afonkina), «The nature of empathic reactions’ manifestations in behaviour» (A. Shchetinina), «Unfinished stories» (T. Gavrilova). The analysis of the methods showed that 70.5% of older preschoolers demonstrate zero and elementary levels of awareness of the emotional states of others. This is manifested in the fact that preschoolers partially understand the emotional states of others, allow inaccuracies when asked to determine them. As a rule, children cannot identify mimics which helped them to identify emotions. In most cases, preschoolers mention situations or possible causes of the emotional states being assessed. Zero and elementary levels of empathy were demonstrated by 56.3% of preschoolers. Children show occasional interest in the emotional behavior of their peers, sometimes «get infected» by their emotional state. Manifestations of empathy are isolated and often depend on the presence of an adult. As a rule, preschoolers understand the situation only from their point of view, thus there is no peer orientation.

Formation of higher education (HE) learner identity among community college transfer students in Hong Kong

PurposeThis study aims to explore the opportunities and constraints for learner identity formation among community college transfer students.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from four in-depth interviews with five transfer students across an academic year (i.e. 20 interviews in total). The first interview allowed the current researcher to explore the context of students' community college experiences and their first semester in the university. The second and third interview had two purposes: (1) to provide an opportunity for students to discuss their second semester experiences and (2) to understand the process of learner identity formation. The last interview allowed the students to reflect on their time in the university after studying for one year.FindingsThe findings reveal that higher education (HE) learner identity was nurtured by peer support, orientation activities and mentorship programme. While, striving for self-improvement and developing into an autonomous and active learner are essential in the formation of the HE learner identity in university.Originality/valueThis study represents the local students' voice that enrolling in community colleges with the goal of transferring to University Grant Committee (UGC)-funded universities. Transition is a process of change in the course of life and also a shift from one identity to another (Ecclestone et al., 2010). A smooth transition may contribute to the formation of positive learner identity, which is essential to student retention and persistence.

تأثير استخدام توجيه الاقران علي مستوي أداء مهارة العدو 100متر لطالبات المرحلة الاعدادية

اتجهت طرائق التدريس إلى استخدام أساليب حديثة تعتمد على إشراک الأفراد المنتظمين في صف واحد أو مرحلة واحدة بتخطيط وتنفيذ وتقويم النشاطات التي يمارسونها في دروس التربية الرياضية، مستثمرة الفروق الفردية لتجعل منها مصدر قوة بدل من أن تکون مصدر قلق للمدرس، ونقطة تثير دافعية الأفراد إلى بذل ما بوسعهم وحسب قدراتهم الفردية فتدفعهم إلى التحصيل المناسب مع قدراتهم وتدفع بهم إلى السعي لمساواة أقرانهم الذين يعتمدون عليهم و بالرغم من التقدم الکبير الذي تشهده المؤسسات التربوية في العملية التعليمية الا انه يلاحظ استمرارية اعتماد طرق تدريس المواد العملية بالمدارس وکليات التربية الرياضية علي الاسلوب التقليدي في التعليم حيث لايزال استخدام الطرق الحديثة وهي طرق تعلم لا طرق تعليم وتلقين محدودة للغاية وترجع أهمية البحث الي.تغيير دور المعلم التقليدي وجعله يلعب دور تربوي فعال في تصميم بيئات تعليميه فعاله و مراعاة الفروق الفردية بين المتعلمين کما يهدف البحث الي معرفة تأثير استخدام توجيه الاقران علي مستوي أداء مهارة العدو 100 متر لطالبات المرحلة الاعدادية ، وقد استخدمت الباحثة المنهج التجريبي ذو المجموعة التجريبية والمجموعة الضابطة وقد تم اختيار العينة قوامها 48 طالبة من طالبات الصف الثالث الاعدادي وقد اشتملت عينة البحث علي 31 طالبة وتقسم الي المجموعة التجريبية (15) طالبة والعينة الاستطلاعية 16 ، واستخدمت الباحثة لجمع البيانات الاستمارات والاختبارات ، وأسفرت نتائج الدراسة علي وجود فروق داله إحصائيا بين متوسطين القياس القبلي والبعدي للمجموعة التجريبية في الاداء البدني والفني لمهارة العدو 100م لصالح القياس البعدي ،ـ توجد فروق داله إحصائيا بين متوسطين القياس القبلي والبعدي للمجموعة التجريبية في مستوي أداء مهارة العدو 100متر لصالح القياس البعدي . Teaching methods have tended to use modern methods that rely on the involvement of individuals who are organized in one class or one stage in planning, implementing and evaluating the activities they practice in physical education lessons, investing individual differences to make them a source of strength instead of being a source of concern for the teacher, and a point that raises the motivation of individuals to make They cannot, according to their individual capabilities, push them to the appropriate achievement with their capabilities, and push them to strive to equate their peers who depend on them, and despite the great progress witnessed by educational institutions in the educational process, he notices the continuity of adopting methods Teaching practical subjects in schools and colleges of physical education on the traditional method of education where the use of modern methods and methods of learning, not teaching and teaching methods, is still very limited and the importance of research is due to. Changing the role of the traditional teacher and making him play an effective educational role in designing effective educational environments and taking into account individual differences between Learners The research also aims to know the effect of using peer guidance on the level of enemy skill performance 100 meters for middle school students. The researcher used the experimental method with the experimental group and the control group. The sample was chosen The intentional method consisted of 48 female students from the third preparatory class and the division of the experimental group (15) female students and the control group (15) female students and the exploratory sample 16 and excluded 2, and the researcher used to collect data forms and tests and the data was statistically processed using the arithmetic mean, standard deviation, torsion coefficient and percentage improvement factor And the results of the study resulted in the presence of statistically significant differences between the mean of the pre and post measurement of the experimental group in the physical and technical performance of the enemy's skill 100 m in favor of the post-measurement - and there are statistically significant differences between the mean of the pre and post measurement of the control group in the physical and technical performance of the enemy's skill 100 m in favor of telemetry. There are statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the physical and technical performance of the enemy's skill 100 m in favor of the experimental group, and the most important recommendations were the need to apply the peer orientation method in teaching skills, including encouraging students with high skill levels to provide assistance and cooperation with their colleagues Low skill level while learning

A Person-Centered Perspective on the Role of Peer Support and Extreme Peer Orientation in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: A Longitudinal Study.

Despite clear evidence that peers are crucial for youth development, research on the role of peers for youth with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is scarce. The present study identified trajectory classes of perceived peer functioning in youth with T1D, based on peer support and extreme peer orientation (EPO). Further, classes were compared with respect to their trajectories of depressive symptoms, diabetes-specific distress, treatment adherence, and HbA1c values. Five hundred and fifty-nine youth (14-25 years) with T1D completed questionnaires at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 years later. Latent class growth analysis identified classes of perceived peer functioning. Multigroup latent growth curve modelling assessed whether these classes were characterized by different trajectories of general and diabetes-specific functioning. A socially normative class (48%) was characterized by trajectories of high support and low EPO over time. A socially reserved class (29%) was characterized by low support and EPO, and a socially oriented class (17%) by high support and EPO. Finally, a socially vulnerable class (6%) was characterized by low support and high EPO. The normative class functioned significantly better over time than the other classes. The vulnerable class functioned significantly worse compared to the reserved class, despite experiencing equally low levels of support. The results underscore the need to take youths' orientation toward the peer context into account alongside support when tapping into the role of peers, because individuals with low levels of support and EPO functioned substantially better than individuals with similar low levels of support but high levels of EPO.

The Social Context and Illness Identity in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study.

Youth with type 1 diabetes are confronted with the challenging task of integrating diabetes into their identity. This integration process, referred to as illness identity, may play an important role in how youth with type 1 diabetes cope with normative and illness-specific challenges. In line with socio-ecological theorizing, the present study investigated the longitudinal interplay between illness identity and two important social contexts for youth, the parent and peer contexts. A total of 559 (54.5% female; mean age = 18.8 years) adolescents (14-17 years) and emerging adults (18-25 years) with type 1 diabetes completed questionnaires at three time-points with intervals of one year. A total of 98% of these participants had the Belgian nationality, and all of them spoke Dutch. At each time point, illness identity (i.e., acceptance, enrichment, rejection, and engulfment), peer support, extreme peer orientation, parental responsiveness, parental psychological control, and parental overprotection were self-assessed. The present findings show that overprotective parenting may lead to youth feeling engulfed by their diabetes. Further, when type 1 diabetes becomes adaptively integrated into youth's identity, the data suggest that youth may be better prepared to engage in healthy peer relationships. Thus, the present findings show that illness identity may be affected by the social context, and in turn may have an impact on parent and peer relationships as well. In general, the present findings underscore the importance of adaptive illness integration for youth with type 1 diabetes, and further emphasize the importance of achieving a coherent identity.

Leverage Points for Governing Agricultural Soils: A Review of Empirical Studies of European Farmers’ Decision-Making

What drives farmers’ decision-making? To inform effective, efficient, and legitimate governance of agricultural soils, it is important to understand the behaviour of those who manage the fields. This article contributes to the assessment and development of innovative soil governance instruments by outlining a comprehensive understanding of the determinants of farmers’ behaviour and decision-making. Our analysis synthesises empirical literature from different disciplines spanning the last four decades on various farm-level decision-making problems. Based on a conceptual framework that links objective characteristics of the farm and the farmer with behavioural characteristics, social-institutional environment, economic constraints, and decision characteristics, empirical findings from 87 European studies are presented and discussed. We point out that economic constraints and incentives are very important, but that other factors also have significant effects, in particular pro-environmental attitudes, goodness of fit, and past experience. Conversely, we find mixed results for demographic factors and symbolic capital. A number of potentially highly relevant yet understudied factors for soil governance are identified, including adoption of technologies, advisory services, bureaucratic load, risk aversion and social capital, social norms, and peer orientation. Our results emphasise the importance of a broad behavioural perspective to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and legitimacy of soil governance.

The Role of Peers for Diabetes Management in Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: A Longitudinal Study.

The increasing importance of peers in adolescence and emerging adulthood has been widely acknowledged. However, longitudinal research linking the peer context to diabetes management and outcomes is scarce. The present longitudinal study in a large sample of youths with type 1 diabetes related both positive and negative peer variables to diabetes outcomes over a time interval of 1 year. Our sample consisted of 467 adolescents (14-17 years of age) and emerging adults (18-25 years of age) with type 1 diabetes who participated in a two-wave longitudinal study. Questionnaires tapped into peer support, extreme peer orientation, parental responsiveness, diabetes-related distress, and treatment adherence. HbA1c values were obtained from the treating physicians of patients. Cross-lagged analysis from a structural equation modeling approach was performed to assess the directionality of effects. Peer support negatively predicted diabetes-related distress over time. Extreme peer orientation positively predicted treatment distress over time. Parental responsiveness negatively predicted food distress over time. Treatment adherence negatively predicted extreme peer orientation, treatment distress, and HbA1c values over time. For emerging adults specifically, there was a reciprocal relationship between HbA1c values and extreme peer orientation because they positively predicted each other. This study highlights the importance of peers in predicting the functioning of youths with type 1 diabetes. Additionally, treatment adherence at baseline was found to negatively predict extreme peer orientation, treatment distress, and worse glycemic control over time. In sum, the current study underscores the importance of the peer context for adolescents and emerging adults with type 1 diabetes.

Friends' Alcohol-Related Social Networking Site Activity Predicts Escalations in Adolescent Drinking: Mediation by Peer Norms

PurposeAdolescents' increased use of social networking sites (SNS) coincides with a developmental period of heightened risk for alcohol use initiation. However, little is known regarding associations between adolescents' SNS use and drinking initiation nor the mechanisms of this association. This study examined longitudinal associations among adolescents' exposure to friends' alcohol-related SNS postings, alcohol-favorable peer injunctive norms, and initiation of drinking behaviors. MethodsParticipants were 658 high-school students who reported on posting of alcohol-related SNS content by self and friends, alcohol-related injunctive norms, and other developmental risk factors for alcohol use at two time points, 1 year apart. Participants also reported on initiation of three drinking behaviors: consuming a full drink, becoming drunk, and heavy episodic drinking (three or more drinks per occasion). Probit regression analyses were used to predict initiation of drinking behaviors from exposure to alcohol-related SNS content. Path analyses examined mediation of this association by peer injunctive norms. ResultsExposure to friends' alcohol-related SNS content predicted adolescents' initiation of drinking and heavy episodic drinking 1 year later, controlling for demographic and known developmental risk factors for alcohol use (i.e., parental monitoring and peer orientation). In addition, alcohol-favorable peer injunctive norms statistically mediated the relationship between alcohol-related SNS exposure and each drinking milestone. ConclusionsResults suggest that social media plays a unique role in contributing to peer influence processes surrounding alcohol use and highlight the need for future investigative and preventive efforts to account for adolescents' changing social environments.

Gender Differences in the Developmental Cascade From Harsh Parenting to Educational Attainment: An Evolutionary Perspective.

This study utilized life history theory to test a developmental cascade model linking harsh parenting to low educational attainment. Multigroup models were examined to test for potential gender differences. The sample consisted of 1,482 adolescents followed up for 9years starting in seventh grade (Mage =12.74). Results supported indirect links between harsh parenting and low educational attainment through the development of extreme peer orientations, early sexual behavior, and delinquency. Among male adolescents, harsh parenting was related to the development of an extreme peer orientation, which further led to increased delinquency, and subsequently lower educational attainment. Among female adolescents, harsh parenting predicted extreme peer orientations, which increased both delinquency and early sexual behavior. Early sexual behavior further predicted lower educational attainment in female adolescents.

Adolescent and family development: Autonomy and identity in the digital age

Adolescence is a time when youth are faced with multiple tasks that intersect and influence one another, e.g., increased desire for autonomy, salience of identity issues, peer orientation, self-focus and self-consciousness, and a continuing need for a safe environment in which to explore autonomy and identity. These all occur in a dynamic ecosystemic environment, which in the past would have mostly included family, peers, and school, but today also includes cyberspace as both a system, and a means to interact with many other systems through the use of multiple forms of information technology (IT). This paper uses the voices and experiences of 128 adolescents, captured in qualitative interviews, to look at autonomy and identity in the digital age as they talk about their parents vis à vis their use of IT. Thematic analysis revealed two major themes: 1) Adolescents spoke of their expertise. In particular they commented on their knowledge to repair equipment, ability to use IT well, their sense of pride in their own ability and their parents' acknowledgement of this ability. 2) Subjects perceived little need for their own supervision, but assessed that other adolescents and younger children needed to be watched closely by their parents. Implications of this work are discussed.

Developing a Personal and Social Identity With Type 1 Diabetes During Adolescence: A Hypothesis Generative Study.

This study explored the incorporation of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) into self-identity among adolescents. Guided interviews explored 40 adolescents' views of T1DM in relation to their sense of self and relationships with others. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results revealed that the entire sample described T1DM as a significant burden; many described how T1DM made them feel less "normal." Adolescents described both positive and negative aspects of self-management in social relationships, though most reported benefits in sharing T1DM with friends. Females were more likely to share information about T1DM and to describe positive changes in self-perception as a result of T1DM. The psychosocial processes related to integration of T1DM into self-identity described in these qualitative data provide hypothesis-generating findings that can guide future quantitative research examining incorporation of T1DM into adolescent self-identity in relation to measures of self-esteem, peer orientation, self-management, and glycemic control.

Stakeholder orientation in public universities: A conceptual discussion and a scale development

This study, based on stakeholder theory, extends current research on the use of the market orientation construct in non-profit organisations, seeking to develop a new multidimensional scale that better fits the higher education context. More specifically, the main purpose of this research is to develop a stakeholder orientation (SO) scale for public universities. A mail survey was sent to all Spanish public university managers, which resulted in 1420 usable questionnaires. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling to develop the multidimensional construct. The findings confirm the applicability to higher education of this SO scale for focusing public universities towards their stakeholders. This SO scale is a multidimensional construct with five components, namely beneficiary orientation, resource acquisition orientation, peer orientation, environment orientation, and inter-functional coordination. This scale has more meaning for assessing the implementation of the marketing concept in public universities than the traditional market orientation construct.

Taking the blame for someone else's wrongdoing: The effects of age and reciprocity.

False confessions are often involved in wrongful convictions and are sometimes made to protect someone else (i.e., the guilty), perhaps as a way of reciprocating past favors. Experimental research has neglected to investigate false confessions made to protect someone else, including among adolescents who may be particularly vulnerable given their peer orientation and sensitivity to peer influence. The present study examined (a) how often individuals would falsely confess to take the blame for another's wrongdoing, and (b) whether the willingness to falsely confess would vary by age group and reciprocity. Adult (n = 99, M age = 20.29) and adolescent (n = 74, M age = 15.47) participants were randomly assigned to either receive or not receive a small favor from a confederate, witnessed the confederate cheat on a task, and then decided whether to sign a statement taking the blame for the confederate's cheating. Adolescents (59%) were more likely to falsely confess than adults (39%). No effect of reciprocity was found. Although a well-documented phenomenon in legal cases and field studies, the present study provides the first experimental evidence concerning voluntary false confessions to protect another, including developmental differences in this tendency. Results highlight the vulnerability of youth and the potential role of peers in legal decision making.

Willingness to Drink as a Function of Peer Offers and Peer Norms in Early Adolescence

The goal of this study was to explore the effect of subjective peer norms on adolescents' willingness to drink and whether this association was moderated by sensitivity to peer approval, prior alcohol use, and gender. The sample was 1,023 middle-school students (52% female; 76% White; 12% Hispanic; M(age) = 12.22 years) enrolled in a prospective study of drinking initiation and progression. Using web-based surveys, participants reported on their willingness to drink alcohol if offered by (a) a best friend or (b) a classmate, peer norms for two referent groups (close friends and classmates), history of sipping or consuming a full drink of alcohol, and sensitivity to peer approval (extreme peer orientation). Items were re-assessed at two follow-ups (administered 6 months apart). Multilevel models revealed that measures of peer norms were significantly associated with both willingness outcomes, with the greatest prediction by descriptive norms. The association between norms and willingness was magnified for girls, those with limited prior experience with alcohol, and youths with low sensitivity to peer approval. Social norms appear to play a key role in substance use decisions and are relevant when considering more reactive behaviors that reflect willingness to drink under conducive circumstances. Prevention programs might target individuals with higher willingness, particularly girls who perceive others to be drinking and youths who have not yet sipped alcohol but report a higher perceived prevalence of alcohol consumption among both friends and peers.