Differential association and substance use: Assessing the Role of Discriminant Validity, Socialization, and Selection in Traditional Empirical Tests
Abstract
Although the correlation between personal and perceived peer substance use remains among the strongest in criminology, the discriminant validity of personal and perceived peer measures remains to be formally tested via confirmatory factor analysis. Further, only limited research has attempted to discern whether substance users seek out similar others rather than being influenced by the substance use that they perceive among their peers. Finally, research has yet to isolate, via panel analysis, the reciprocal relationship between personal substance use and perceived peer attitudes. The present study addresses each of these issues using National Youth Survey data. Results reveal that personal substance-related behavior and perceived peer behavior/attitudes bear only minimal discriminant validity and that, as predicted by Gottfredson and Hirschi’sGeneral Theory of Crime, selection provides a better explanation of their correlation than does socialization.
Department
Sociology
Publication Date
1-2012
Journal Title
European Journal of Criminology
Publisher
Sage Publications
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1177/1477370811421647
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Rebellon, Cesar J. 2012. “Differential Association and Substance Use: Assessing the Role of Discriminant Validity, Socialization, and Selection in Traditional Empirical Tests.” European Journal of Criminology. 9:73-96.