The Gender Structure of Adolescent Peer Influence on Drinking, Article Review Example

The article “The Gender Structure of Adolescent Peer Influence on Drinking” by Monica Gaughan focuses on gender structure of friendship (homogeneous or heterogeneous) as a potential predictor of adolescent drinking patterns. The research assumes that peer influence differs by gender structure of friendship. The topicality of the theme is justified by multiple researches misrepresenting the data paying minor attention to gender issues in peer influence on drinking. Therefore, the assumption of the study is the higher status of male adolescents in peer friendship, in comparison to female status and its impact on drinking. It identifies the object of the study – to identify the difference of status expectations in same-sex and mixed-sex friendships.

The author applies complex method combining theoretical and empirical study. Claimed preliminary theoretical analysis of multiple researches of friendship structure, adolescent behavior, and peer influence validates the hypothesized statements by using status characteristics theory. Moreover, theoretical background insights and previous empirical findings facilitate the identification of significant psychological and demographic aspects integrated with adolescents drinking behavior: parenting style, demographic characteristics (age, race, and sex), close environment, involvement in sports or other activities, religiosity, academic results, potential adult goals, school alienation.

To sustain the thesis Gaughan, resorts the following social research methods: sampling and questionnaire design. Founding on information from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health “Add Health”, the researcher has picked out relevant best-friends pairs by the method of mechanic selecting. She justifies the specific object of investigation by the status of gender identification as a core differentiation factor, significance of dyads as key units of the group and macro-level processes, and little-investigated cross-sex friendship structures. The author supposes such approach based on natural setting of best-friend dyad the strength of the current study. Status expectation theories allow to hypothesize that influence processes will be similar in gender-homogenous dyads and unequal in gender-heterogeneous friendships.

The method of questionnaire design was used to question 14, 738 students from sixteen “saturated” schools. In the process of selection, the group of focal respondents finally resulted in 1,029 mixed-sex friendship dyads. The respondents had to answer a series of scaled questions concerning the variables constructing the tables: religiosity, family closeness, age, race, sex, school problems and other. For example, questions concerning family closeness were the following: “How much do you feel that your parents care about you? How much do you feel that people in your family understand you? How much do you feel that you and your family have fun together? How much do you feel that your family pays attention to you?” (Gaughan 58)

The methodology of sampling and questionnaire seem appropriate for the current investigation. Sampling assures the precise object of investigation including exclusively white heterogeneous friendship pairs of adolescent age. The set of indicators forming the scale assure validity of the study. Anonymous scale based questionnaire allows obtaining of credible information from the respondents.  The process of investigation is well-thought and possesses no apparent errors.

The tables assemble the data of the questionnaire and serve the evidence to support the thesis of the work. On the ground of obtained information, the researcher evaluates the figures and verifies the statement of differing influence of same-sex and mixed-sex friendship dyads. The chapter “Results” dwells on the explication of the outcomes: older white youngsters drink more, religiosity and family closeness prevent drinking, school problems put at risk stability. These results are valid for both primary adolescent and the friend. The table proves the hypothesized, female friendships and male friendships demonstrate a reciprocated impact process between the friends. The results for mix-sex friendships prove that girls have no significant effect on male drunkenness, while they are influenced by boys.

Obviously, the logical line of reasoning founded on strong evidence, namely statistic data, works for thesis maintenance. In the framework of quantitative research, the problem of standard errors may disclaim the reliability of calculations. The author of the article acknowledges possible errors; however, she emphasizes that “using, the Root Mean-Square Error of Approximation (Browne and Cudeck 1993), each of the five models is adequate” and “the Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (Joreskog and Sorbom 1993) also indicates that each model fits the data well” (Gaughan 57). The named sources serve the confirmation of utmost probability estimation of empirically represented data.

Therefore, the scientist concludes that the peer influence process varies by the gender structure of the friendship. It is proven that males in heterogeneous friendships influence female friends; simultaneously, they are not affected in return.

The results of the article can attract not only sociologist, but psychologists and parents, as well. The article profoundly surveys the background predictors for adolescent drinking behaviors within different friendship dyads. Moreover, through these predictors, it explicates possible causes of alcohol consumption. On the other hand, non-expert readers have to read much specialized information to comprehend the outcomes of the article.

The article gives perfect, well-structured, and coherent theoretical and empirical analysis of the problem. It states the facts and provides reasonable justification. Still, practical application of data and factors preventing male and female adolescents from drinking could become an object of further studies.

Works Cited

Gaughan, Monica. “The Gender Structure of Adolescent Peer Influence on Drinking”. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 47(2006): 47- 61. Web. 22 Oct. 2010.