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Thesis
Relationship among school norms and peer group norms and adolescent self-reported substance use
University of West Florida
Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida
2011
Abstract
Recent surveys have revealed substance use in students as early as the elementary years. According to the literature, peer groups are influential on individual behavior and this is especially true during the early years of adolescence. Thus, research has started to identify specifics of early adolescent substance use. The present research investigated the predictive power of social norms, specifically overall school norms and peer groups norms, on adolescents. self-reported substance use. The sample included 132 adolescents in physical education classes in a rural southeastern middle school. Adolescent's perceptions of cigarette, chewing tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, prescription medications, and other substance use of the overall school, peer groups within the school, and their self-selected peer group were assessed using a survey developed by the researcher. The results of the study support the contention that perceived peer group substance use is a stronger predictor of adolescent self-reported substance use than perceived school-wide substance use. This research could be beneficial in informing school administrators and researchers about substance use at the middle school level which could lead to a better understanding of how to tailor prevention to this population.
Details
- Title
- Relationship among school norms and peer group norms and adolescent self-reported substance use
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Robert J Rotunda (Committee Member) - University of West Florida, PsychologySamuel R. Matthews (Committee Chair) - University of West Florida
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- pdf
- Copyright
- Permission granted to the University of West Florida Libraries to digitize and/or display this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Further reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from the publisher.
- Identifiers
- 99380090756106600
- Academic Unit
- Psychology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Arts (MA)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida