1. 1 Gender & Delinquency : Aggression, Peer Influence and Alcohol Use in Adolescence Melinda G. Schmidt, M.A. Joseph P. Allen, Ph.D. University of Virginia Funding for this project was provided by a National Research Service Award NIDA grant to the first author, and by grants from the William T. Grant Foundation, Spencer Foundation, and National Institute of Mental Health to the second author.

2. 2 Adolescent Alcohol Use Gender & Aggression: Links to Alcohol Use –Overt Aggression –Relational Aggression Gender & Peer Influence: Links to Alcohol Use –Experience of Peer Pressure –Susceptibility to Peer Influence –Composition of the Peer Group Age & Gender of Key Peers

3. 3 Hypotheses I.Girls and boys will demonstrate different patterns and follow unique trajectories in the development of alcohol use during adolescence. II.Unique forms of aggression will be associated with girls’ and boys’ developmental trajectories of alcohol use. III.Alcohol use is expected to change throughout adolescence based on associations between the gender of the teen, the gender and age of members of his/her peer group, and his/her experience of peer pressure and susceptibility to peer influence.

4. 4 Research Design & Methods KLIFF Study Participants (3 waves) –185 Target Teens (98 females, 87 males) –Mean Age at Wave 1 = 13.36, SD = 0.66 –107 Caucasians, 54 African-Americans, 24 Other and/or Mixed Minority Groups –Mean total family income: $30,000-39,999/yr Other Participants: –1 Close Peer, 2 Group Peers Procedure

5. 5 Key Constructs & Measures

6. 6 Distribution of Alcohol Use

7. 7 Hypothesis I: Onset of Alcohol Use for Teens by Gender

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9. 9 Hypothesis I: Slope of Alcohol Use for Males and Females Across Three Waves

10. 10 Hypothesis II: Aggression & Alcohol Use Gender Differences in Aggression? –Males are Higher in Overt and Relational Aggression than Females in this sample. Aggression as a Predictor of Alcohol Use? –Overt Aggression Predicts: Higher Frequency of Alcohol Use at Waves 1 & 2 More Problem Drinking Behaviors at Waves 1, 2, & 3 –Relational Aggression Predicts: More Problem Drinking Behaviors at Waves 1, 2, & 3 Correlated Change in Aggression & Alcohol Use? –Changes in Overt and Relational Aggression are Significantly Correlated with Frequency of Alcohol Use among Females, but not Males.

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13. 13 Hypothesis III: The Mixed-Gender Peer Group & Alcohol Use Effects of the Mixed-Gender Peer Group? –Females whose peer groups contain a greater percentage of males at Wave 1… Experience More Peer Pressure at Wave 1 Report a Higher Frequency of Alcohol Use at Waves 1 & 2 Exhibit More Problem Drinking Behaviors at Wave 3 –Males whose peer groups contain a greater percentage of females at Wave 1… Report a Higher Frequency of Alcohol Use at Waves 2 & 3 Demonstrate More Problem Drinking Behaviors at Wave 2

14. 14 Hypothesis III: The Older Peer Group & Alcohol Use Effects of the Older Peer Group? –Males whose peer group is older at Wave 1… Are More Susceptible to Peer Influence in an Observed Peer Interaction Task at W2 Report a Higher Frequency of Alcohol Use at Wave 3 –For females, having an older peer group was not a significant predictor of peer pressure, susceptibility to peer influence, or alcohol use.

15. 15 Hypothesis III: Correlated Change in Peer Pressure, the Composition of Peer Group & Alcohol Use Linked Change in Experience of Peer Pressure & Development of Alcohol Use –Females who report experiencing a higher level of peer pressure show faster increases in alcohol use from Wave 1  Wave 3. Correlation Between Composition of Peer Group & Alcohol Use –Females whose peer groups contain a larger percentage of boys across all waves show a higher frequency of alcohol use across the three waves.

16. 16 Take Home Messages I.Despite similarities in onset and mean level of alcohol use, males and females may show different developmental trajectories of alcohol use. II.Like overt aggression, relational aggression is an important predictor of adolescent alcohol use. III.Characteristics of the peer group, such as the age and gender of key peers, differently affect the development of alcohol use in males and females.