Examining unsupervised time with peers and the role of association with delinquent peers on adolescent smoking.
BACKGROUND
This study explored the association between unsupervised time with peers and adolescent smoking behavior both directly and indirectly through interaction with delinquent peers, social expectancies about cigarette smoking, and cigarette offers from peers.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was used for the study and included 248 male and female middle school students.


RESULTS
Results of structural equation modeling revealed that unsupervised time with peers is associated indirectly with adolescent smoking behavior through the mediation of association with delinquent peers, social expectancies about cigarette smoking, and cigarette offers from peers.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions designed to motivate adolescents without adult supervision to associate more with friends who engage in prosocial activities may eventually reduce adolescent smoking. Further implications for structured supervised time for students outside of school time are discussed.
Greene
Kathryn
K
Department of Communication, Rutgers University, 4 Huntington Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. kgreene@scils.rutgers.edu
Banerjee
Smita C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008297:Male; D009511:New England; D010379:Peer Group; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012907:Smoking