Longitudinal modeling of adolescents' activity involvement, problem peer associations, and youth smoking

Aaron Metzger*, Nickki Dawes, Robin Mermelstein, Lauren Wakschlag

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Longitudinal associations among different types of organized activity involvement, problem peer associations, and cigarette smoking were examined in a sample of 1040 adolescents (mean age = 15.62 at baseline, 16.89 at 15-month assessment, 17.59 at 24 months) enriched for smoking experimentation (83% had tried smoking). A structural equation model tested longitudinal paths between three categories of involvement (team sports, school clubs and activities, and religious activities, measured at baseline and 15 months), problem peer associations (baseline and 15 months), and cigarette smoking behavior (baseline and 24 months). Multi-group analyses indicated pathways differed by type of activity and adolescent gender. Boys' baseline team sports and religious involvement predicted lower levels of smoking at 24 months via continued activity involvement at 15 months. Girls' involvement in school clubs and activities and religious activities indirectly predicted lower levels of smoking at 24 months via reduced exposure to problem peers at 15 months.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-9
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Applied Developmental Psychology
Volume32
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2011

Keywords

  • Adolescence
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Longitudinal pathways
  • Organized activity involvement
  • Problem peers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Longitudinal modeling of adolescents' activity involvement, problem peer associations, and youth smoking'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this