Teen Drinking Habits are Influenced by Partner’s Social Groups

A new study from Pennsylvania State University demonstrates a link between teen drinking habits and the drinking habits of his or her significant other’s friends. This could have either a positive or negative effect on teen dating, depending on the social habits of teenagers’ friends. If a teen’s significant other binge drinks frequently, it is likely that he or she will begin doing the same, resulting in a potential trip to drug or alcohol rehab centers.

A number of people think that teen drinking habits are dependent on adolescent friendships and romantic relationships. While those people do have a degree of influence, the friends of a partner exert a much larger influence due to many teenagers’ desire to get this new group of friends to accept them. Teens in cities like Los Angeles, where partying is much more prevalent, are more likely to become involved in drinking at a younger age than in other areas of the country.

Dr. Derek Kreager, the lead researcher on this study, collected questionnaires from 898 students to study adolescent health — in particular teen social networks and how they changed over an 18-month period. The questionnaire demonstrated the link between a teen’s drinking habits and the social group he or she was around had a deep influence on those habits. If others in a social group have attended alcohol rehab centers it is more likely that your teen may pick up similar habits. 

Dr. Kreager explained, “think of your son or daughter’s new significant other as a bridge to a whole other group that he or she is now going to be exposed to.” This new group of friends could be a good or a bad influence on the teen. The study also found that boys were more likely to be binge drinkers, but were also more likely to be influenced by their significant other’s social group.

Perhaps your child was previously on the path towards enrolling in one of the Los Angeles-area alcohol rehab centers, but his new love interest has completely changed his drinking habits. It is important to know by what kind of social groups your teen is being influenced. If his significant other is involved in a Christian youth group in Los Angeles, it could have a very positive effect on his lifestyle.

The lesson that parents should take away from this study is that they need to be aware of all their children’s social circles. Don’t be oblivious until you are checking your child into multiple alcohol rehab centers in cities like Los Angeles. To keep teenagers on the right path, be proactive and involved in your teen’s social circles.