Social networks, substance use, and mental health in college students.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between social network risk (alcohol-using close friends), perceived peer closeness, substance use, and psychiatric symptoms was examined to identify risk and protective features of college students' social context.


METHODS
Six hundred and seventy undergraduate students enrolled in a large southeastern university.


METHODS
An online survey was administered to consenting students.


RESULTS
Students with risky networks were at a 10-fold increase of hazardous drinking, 6-fold increase for weekly marijuana use, and 3-fold increase for weekly tobacco use. College students' who feel very close to their peers were protected against psychiatric symptoms yet were at increased risk for marijuana use. Perceived closeness of peers was highly protective against psychiatric symptoms, adding a natural preventive effect for a population at great risk for mental illness.


CONCLUSIONS
RESULTS support targeting college students through network-oriented preventive interventions to address substance use as well as mental health.
a Department of Psychiatry , Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond , Virginia.
Michael J
MJ
Mason
Nikola
N
Zaharakis
Eric G
EG
Benotsch
D055030:Drug Users; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
college students; mental health; social networks; substance use