SS 16.00-17.30 Special sessions

THE INFLUENCE OF PEER GROUP STRUCTURE ON SMOKING BEHAVIOUR AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE

This longitudinal study, which combines qualitative methods with social network analysis, reveals how peer group structure is strongly related to smoking among eleven to fifteen year olds. The young people's 'insider' accounts in one-to-one interviews and focus groups describe a social map composed of distinct peer groups within the school year which are hierarchical in terms of status, and whose members are identifiable by their appearance, attitudes, and behaviour. Smoking is consistently associated with three peer groups: high status girls, low status girls, and 'trouble-makers' (mainly boys). Social network analysis complements and confirms the young people's accounts. The use of specialist computer software enables the detailed preparation of sociogram which identify distinct peer groups within the school year, as well as labelling individuals as group members, liaisons, or isolates. Findings reveal:

(1)distinct smoking and non-smoking peer groups within each school year

(2)similar smoking behaviour by group members and pupils linked to groups.

The implications for health education policy and practice are far-reaching in terms of targeting, relevance, and acceptability. Peer group membership, with its associated image, identity and style, may be a key factor which either contributes to, or militates against, the success of smoking prevention programmes.

Smoke Free Europe Conference Abstracts - 19 SEP 1996

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