title: Effect of peers on employment and implications for drug treatment.
abstract: We examined the effect peers have on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients' employment behavior. Nondrug using and chronic drug using TANF recipients (n=433) participating in a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse were asked how many of the people they regularly spent time with over the past 4 months had jobs and how many of them encouraged the individual to look for work. Results of a path analysis showed that age, education, and chronic drug use were significantly related to the nature of peer relationships. A significant and positive association between the number of peers that worked and the number of hours worked in the following 4 months was observed. Examining the effect of peers on labor force participation by TANF recipients is necessary to assist recipients in securing and maintaining employment.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Systems Corporation, Houston, Texas 77027, USA. imontoya@affiliatedsystems.com
authors.forename: Isaac D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Montoya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016832:Employment, Supported / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012944:Social Support; D012946:Social Welfare; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*