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Journal Article 1: Stoddard, S. A., & Pierce, J. (2016). Alcohol and marijuana use and intentions among adolescents: The role of the reasoned action approach and positive future orientation. Youth & Society, 50, 758–779.

Abstract: Perceptions of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use are associated with adolescent substance use behavior, yet research on the role of contextual factors and positive assets in this relationship is scant. This study examined the relationship between school environment and peer influence and past 30-day alcohol and marijuana use via positive future orientation and AOD perceptions in a high school sample (n = 392; 49% male; 73% White). A positive peer influence and a positive school environment were associated with lower alcohol and marijuana use via future orientation, reasoned action approach (RAA) constructs (i.e., injunctive norms, AOD expectancies, and perceived control over AOD use), and intentions to avoid AOD use. The findings provide support for the role of a positive future orientation in the prevention of AOD use among youth and point to differential paths of influence for contextual factors.

Journal Article 2: Sanchagrin, K., Heimer, K., & Paik, A. (2014). Adolescent delinquency, drinking, and smoking: Does the gender of friends matter? Youth & Society, 49, 805–826.

Abstract: Youths who have deviant and delinquent friends are more likely to engage in delinquency. Interestingly, most quantitative studies of the association between deviant peers and deviant behavior have assumed that all peer connections have similar effects. Yet, it is possible that peer influence may vary depending on the characteristics of peers. Using social network data from two waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health, this study examines the impact of same-sex and cross-sex friendships on deviance and delinquency in adolescent networks. The findings demonstrate that peer association is a significant predictor of delinquency for males, although its effects depend on the gender of boys’ friends. For females, by contrast, the link between associating with deviant peers and behavior is minimal once the stable characteristics of individuals are taken into account. Rather, social bonds are the most important predictors of delinquency.