Online Peer Networks: Examining the relationship between composition of young adults' online networks and their AOD behaviors

Youth who interact in networks with higher concentrations of alcohol and other drug use (AOD) are more likely to use drugs than those with less AOD density in their social networks. Given that young adults' (YA) communicate frequently with peers online, it is vital to examine whether peer online network characteristics (e.g., network structure and AOD acceptability) are related to YA's AOD use.

Using a web-version of Respondent-Driven Sampling (webRDS), we recruited a sample of YA (ages 18 to 24; N=2,845). Via a web-survey, participants answered questions regarding their AOD use (e.g., alcohol, marijuana and other drugs in past 30 days) and listed the top 5 individuals with whom they communicate most frequently online (“alters”; N=10,747). We characterized YA's peer online networks based on alter relationships (density) and alters' age, race/ethnicity, sex, and AOD acceptability. Using multivariate regression, we explored the relationship between YA's alcohol and marijuana use in the past 30 days and their online network characteristics.

Over half of participants (62%) reported alcohol use in the past month, whereas 20% used marijuana. On average, the proportion of YA's peer online networks was 50% female, 73% White, and had a mean age of 20.7 years (SD = 2.7). Preliminary multivariate analyses suggest a relationship between YA's AOD use and their online network structures.

We discuss our findings and highlight the importance of promoting online network-based AOD prevention programs for YAs in the United States, including whether tailoring prevention messages based on YA's online network composition is warranted.