Peer norms and ability to resist peer pressure predicted hazardous cannabis use in Oregon teens
Among 204 Oregon adolescents tracked over 12 months in a legal cannabis state, perceiving more peer cannabis use and having lower resistance to peer influence predicted increasing hazardous cannabis use over time.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Individual increases in hazardous cannabis use were significantly associated with higher peer norms (perceiving more peer use) and lower resistance to peer influence. Between-adolescent differences in hazardous use were associated only with peer norms. Past-month cannabis use was associated with peer norms but not resistance to peer influence.
Key Numbers
204 adolescents ages 15-19 (mean 18.68, 67% female); 12-month follow-up with 4 time points; peer norms and resistance to peer influence both predicted within-person changes in hazardous use; only peer norms predicted between-person differences
How They Did This
Longitudinal study of 204 adolescents aged 15-19 in the Portland, Oregon area (legal recreational cannabis state) who endorsed at least one heavy drinking episode. Data collected across four time points over 12 months, analyzed with multilevel latent growth curve modeling.
Why This Research Matters
In states where cannabis is legal for adults, understanding the cognitive and social factors that drive adolescent use can help design targeted prevention programs.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that both peer norms and individual resistance to peer pressure independently predicted hazardous use suggests prevention efforts need to address both the social environment and individual skills.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Participants were all heavy drinkers so may not represent all adolescents; single metropolitan area in one state; self-reported peer norms and substance use; relatively small sample; 67% female
Questions This Raises
- ?Would interventions targeting resistance to peer influence reduce hazardous cannabis use?
- ?How do peer norms around cannabis differ in legal versus non-legal states?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 204 teens tracked over 12 months in legal cannabis state
- Evidence Grade:
- Longitudinal design with sophisticated multilevel modeling, but limited by sample recruited for heavy drinking and single geographic area.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study
- Original Title:
- Multilevel associations of peer cognitive factors and adolescent cannabis use in a legal recreational cannabis region.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in psychiatry, 15, 1477000 (2024)
- Authors:
- Kenyon, Emily A, Yang, Manshu, Chung, Tammy(3), Wilson, Anna C, Feldstein Ewing, Sarah W
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05422
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What predicted hazardous cannabis use in teens?
Two factors predicted increasing hazardous cannabis use over time: believing peers used cannabis more frequently (peer norms) and having lower ability to resist peer pressure. Peer norms also predicted differences between teens in overall use levels.
Does this matter more in states where cannabis is legal?
The researchers specifically studied teens in Portland, Oregon, where adult recreational cannabis is legal. They argue that in legal contexts, evolving social norms around cannabis make peer influence factors especially important to understand for prevention.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05422APA
Kenyon, Emily A; Yang, Manshu; Chung, Tammy; Wilson, Anna C; Feldstein Ewing, Sarah W. (2024). Multilevel associations of peer cognitive factors and adolescent cannabis use in a legal recreational cannabis region.. Frontiers in psychiatry, 15, 1477000. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1477000
MLA
Kenyon, Emily A, et al. "Multilevel associations of peer cognitive factors and adolescent cannabis use in a legal recreational cannabis region.." Frontiers in psychiatry, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1477000
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Multilevel associations of peer cognitive factors and adoles..." RTHC-05422. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kenyon-2024-multilevel-associations-of-peer
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.