Key result
Deviant peer affiliation combined with blunted sympathetic nervous system reactivity amplified the probability of substance use onset, binge drinking, and sexual activity involving substance use.
Why the study?
It was evaluated whether the association between deviant peer affiliation and onset of substance use is conditional upon sex and sympathetic nervous system reactivity measured by pre-ejection period.
Does deviant peer affiliation and sympathetic nervous system reactivity predict the onset of substance use in adolescents?
Cohort (n=251)
Does deviant peer affiliation and sympathetic nervous system reactivity predict the onset of substance use in adolescents?
Blunted sympathetic nervous system reactivity amplifies the risk of substance use onset associated with deviant peer affiliation in adolescents.
We evaluated whether the association between deviant peer affiliation and onset of substance use is conditional upon sex and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) reactivity as measured by pre-ejection period (PEP). Community-sampled adolescents ( N = 251; M = 15.78 years; 53% female; 66% White, 34% Black) participated in three waves. PEP reactivity was collected during a mirror star-tracer stress task. Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, or any substance use, as well as binge drinking and sexual activity involving substance use were outcomes predicted by affiliation with deviant peers and two- and three-way interactions with sex and PEP reactivity. Probability of substance use increased over time, but this was amplified for adolescents with greater deviant peer affiliation in conjunction with blunted PEP reactivity. The same pattern of results was also found for prediction of binge drinking and sexual activity involving substance use. Findings are discussed in the context of biosocial models of adolescent substance use and health risk behaviors.
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Hinnant et al. (2021) conducted a cohort in Substance use (n=251). Deviant peer affiliation and blunted sympathetic nervous system reactivity was evaluated on Onset of substance use, binge drinking, and sexual activity involving substance use. Deviant peer affiliation combined with blunted sympathetic nervous system reactivity amplified the probability of substance use onset, binge drinking, and sexual activity involving substance use.
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