title: Identity development as a buffer of adolescent risk behaviors in the context of peer group pressure and control.
abstract: We examined identity development as a moderator of the relation between peer group pressure and control and adolescents' engagement in risk behaviors. Participants (n=1070; M(age)=15.45 years) completed a self-report measure of identity exploration, the degree to which they have explored a variety of self-relevant values, beliefs and goals, and identity commitment, the degree to which they have secured a personal identity. Participants further reported on their frequency of risk behaviors (substance use and general deviancy) and experienced peer group pressure and control. Results confirmed that identity commitment was a buffer of substance use and identity exploration was a buffer of general deviancy in more pressuring peer groups. In more controlling peer groups, teens with greater identity commitment engaged in less risk behavior than teens with low-identity commitment. Thus, identity development may be a suitable target to deter negative effects of peer pressure in high-risk adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Social and Epidemiological Research, UWO Research Park, 100 Collip Circle, Suite 200, London, ON, Canada N6G 4X8. tdumas@uwo.ca
authors.forename: Tara M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Dumas
authors.forename: Wendy E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011581:Psychological Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012649:Self Concept; D012737:Sex Factors; D012933:Social Identification; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology