Harakeh & Vollebergh (2013) conducted an original investigation on young adult smoking in peer groups using an experimental observational study design. The goal of the study was to examine whether passive peer influence or imitation affects the smoking behavior of young adults within group settings such as same-sex triads. The study observed the phenomena within the context of both heterogeneous (contradictory) and homogenous behavior of peer models. The premise for this study was that peer influence is considered a consistent predictor that impacts on smoking by young people whether in its active or passive forms. The authors noted that previous studies found young people were affected more by passive peer influence (imitation) than by active peer influence or peer pressure. The critical gap in such studies was that they were limited to dyads whereas peer influence happens in groups as well. The researchers also state that literature suggests that passive peer influence had a strongest effect on behavior within homogeneous group settings than heterogeneous group settings. Thus, the study looked at whether, in a homogenous group of three persons, passive peer influences and contradictory behaviors affect the behavior of young adults with regards to smoking. The participants were 48 daily-smoking college and university students between the ages of 17 to 25 and completed a completed a 30-minute music task involving two same-sex partners. The experiment tested conditions of where none of the participants were smoking, one of them was smoking and the other is not, as well as where two participants were smoking.
The findings for the study were that the effect of the homogeneity among smoking peers
is not greater than that of the heterogeneity (a mix of smoking and nonsmoking peers) on the smoking behaviors of young people. These findings are important as they demonstrate that the smoking peer seems to have a higher impact on adults that smoke daily than non-smoking adults.
The selection and retention of friends based on cigarette smoking similarity was studied by DeLay et al. (2013). The study looked at whether cigarette smoking affected selection, socialization and deselection in a friendship group. The premise for this study was that previous studies examined socialization and selection effects with regards to smoking but did not examine consider the potential moderating influence of friendship group smoking and deselection. The study therefore, looked at what role deselection has in friendship similarity with regards to cigarette smoking, as well as whether how friendship group affects selection, socialization and deselection. The study looked at 1419 students with a median age of 16 from vocational and upper secondary schools in Finland. The participants were asked to nominate their friends and to describe their smoking behaviors at two points in a year. The study found from network analyses that there was similarity based on selection and deselection for smoking behaviors. Selection of new friends based on similarity (selection effects) was stronger for adolescents who were in low-smoking groups. Dropping of friends as a result of dissimilarity was stronger for adolescents within high smoking groups. The study did not find any similarity based on socialization. The authors conclude by stating that the findings of the study have important implications for intervention efforts that target smoking cessation. The study underscores the need for parents and professionals to understand to understand the moderators in peer similarity and how peer groups percieve smoking. From the findings, late adolescents may not be willing to give up smoking habits because of their friendship group membership, in addition to the addictive nature of the substance.
Waters et al. (2006) investigated the characteristics of social smoking among college students. According to the researchers, social smoking in young adults is not well-understood. Social contexts have been found to be important in both the initiation and maintenance of the smoking habit. Studies conducted by the tobacco industry reveal that people who smoke socially see it as a way to build bonds and start conversations. The researchers’ state lack of clear definition of the term “social smoking” hinders understanding of the phenomena. Definitions of social smoking include smoking in social situations, smoking in hospitality avenues and smoking at festivities. Such definitions characterize social smoking as involving other people as well as being a situational event. The researchers therefore describe social smokers as people who smoke when socializing. The study looked at the differences between college students that engage in social smoking and those that engage in other smoking. The objective of the study was to see whether there were differences in rate of smoking, the motivation and confidence to quit, as well as in perceptions of themselves as smokers. Additionally, the study looked at the predictors of social smoking. There was no significant difference for the motivation to quit smoking between the two groups. A significant difference existed between the groups with respect to confidence to quit, the number of cigarettes and the number of days smoked. The study also found that more social smokers did not perceive themselves to be smokers. From logistic regression analysis, lower psychological and physical dependence as well as higher social support scores were found to be predictors for social smoking. The study thus confirmed that the social context represents an important factor in smoking. The findings of the study have implications for understanding of social smoking towards planning prevention and cessation programs for college students who engage in social smoking.
- Harakeh, Z. & Vollebergh, W. (2013). Original investigate on young adult smoking in peer groups: an experimental observational study. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, volume 15, number 3, 656–661
- DeLay, D., Laursen, B., Kiuru, N., Salmela-Aro, K. & Nurmi, J. (2013). Selecting and retaining friends on the basis of cigarette smoking similarity. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 23(3), 464–473
- Waters, K., Harris, K., Hall, S., Nazir, N. & Waigandt, A. (2006).Characteristics of Social Smoking Among College Students. Journal of American College Health, Vol. 55, No. 3
