Actor-based Models of Substance Use in Adolescent Social Networks: Unravelling complex drivers of behaviour

Very little is known about social network patterns associated with substance use among adolescent New Zealanders. Social network analysis is useful for understanding subtle and interdependent drivers of adolescent substance use in ways that are not possible using conventional statistical analysis. This thesis tests the hypotheses that: there are upstream determinants of adolescent substance use stemming from social network structure, social influence processes can be distinguished from social selection processes and that substance use cognitions can diffuse through networks at a significant rate based on exposure and susceptibility of networks actors. An important component of this thesis applies newly developed social network and agent-based models to test hypotheses and answer follow-on research questions. Social network data was collected from two Auckland co-educational high school friendship networks (n=135 students aged 16 to 18) in 2013. Cross-sectional analyses were performed on both networks and a longitudinal analysis was performed on one of the networks. Homophily according to gender and ethnicity was found in the observed networks. Smokers tended to be friends with other smokers and those friendships appeared to be driven by social selection processes. The same processes did not appear to drive drinking behaviour. Homophily among drinkers was demonstrated and appear to be driven by social influence processes. Anti-substance use cognitions also appeared to diffuse based on exposure to popular and/or male network actors who held the cognition. These findings are important because to our knowledge this is the first study to examine associations between exposures in adolescent social network structures to substance use and associated cognitions in New Zealand.

Name thesis:degree_name

PhD

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Public Health

Grantor dc:publisher

ResearchSpace@Auckland

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Greenwell, James

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• McCool, J

Statement dc:rights

• Items in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. Previously published items are made available in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2292/28326

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchspace.auckland.ac.nz:2292/28326